Oakland sunshine., 1915-03-27
BELGIAN CoaGo NATIVES.
Their Habits and Customs vividly De-
scribed by Or. w. Il. Sheppard.


Their Habits and Customs vividly De-
scribed by Or. w. II. Sheppard.
Everyday life in the Belgian Kongo
was graphically described by DR.. Will
liam FL. Sheppard of Louisville. Ky.,
at recent Sunday evening chapel
service at the Hampton (Ya., institute.
DR.. Sheppard who became some years
ago fellow of the Royal Geograph-
zeal society on account of his African
explorations and studies. told the
Hampton workers and students about
his early experiences as a missionary
In March, 1890, the son of Judge
Lapsiey, a young white man of Ala
bama. and DR., Sheppard made their
way into the Kongo region and after
many difficulties reached the Kassai
river. known to the natives as the
"river Of spirits" on account of the
number of people annually taken by
the crocodiles. DR.. Sheppard said:
When Mr. Lapsley was lying in the ca
noe sick with the fever some natives came
forward with spears and We're going to
kill him and his coworker. DIR. Sheppard
faced the hostile people to save the life
of the young southerner, who was after
ward known among the natives as the
Pathfinder" because of his ability to
find his way into the heart of the coun-
try and into the hearts of the natives.
After the death of Mr.. Lapsley / con-
tinued my missionary work by establish
ing Sunday scfool and bringing Christ's
message to the people of the interior.
The African natives who live under
the cruel hand Of superstition are to be
sympathized with. The twitching of the
hand, the snake crossing the trail. the
hooting Of the owl in the jungle are all
signs of some unforeseen danger. Going
on journey il there was tree in the
path crowd went around it on the same
side. not allowing it to part them. A
man going on journey. if he stubbed
his toe, would never go on; he would stop
and spit in the place and go back home.
If a man is accused of stealing he is
forced to put one hand in boiling water
three times. If the hand Is not scalded
he is considered innocent
We watched a man who had been ac-
cused plunge his arm in up to the elbow
one two, three times The skin began
to peel off. He was called guilty and was
heavily fined. Young girls who had been
accused came before the witch doctors
hold 1t tight with a copper wire and say,
IF you are not guilty it will not burn
you" l have seen a girl going around
for weeks with sick and swollen eyes
who, in the minds Of the natives, was
guilty. The day of the witch doctor is
passing in Central Africa. The natives
are learning that Christian doctors and
teachers can help them more than the
witch doctors. Christianity is taking pos
session of the hearts of the natives.
These African curios which l show you
here describe in detail the economic and
social life of the natives.
In spite of the fact that his life was
nearly taken because he dared to re-
veal the atrocities committed In the
Belgian KonGo by the officers of King
Leopold, DR.. Sheppard has been most
willing to give all that he can afford
TO help the Belgians in their dire dis.
tress. DIR. Sheppard made clear that
the murder of people in the Kongo,
where rubber is such an important
commodity, was not sanctioned by the
Belgians.
'The African colony known as the
Belgian Kongo was the private property
of King Leopold. There are many peo-
pie in Belgium who knew nothing at all
about King Leopold's officers cutting
off the hands and ears of natives who
failed to gath Y the quantity Of rub.
Der expected of them. The Master
has given me the heart and spirit of
Hampton" said DR.. Sheppard in con-
clusion. II would not hate any man."