IN CENTRAL AFRICA.
AH DTTBEVtSW WITH CAM*. HOREL I As has been already announced, a deputation from the Iktndoa Missionary Society nas arrived in Chriatehureh to urge the claims of that Society to the sympathy of the people here, Included tit the deputation is a gentleman—C&pt. Hore—who has spent • considerable portion of his life io Africa at a station of the Society on Lake Tanganyika, Central Africa. One of the members of the staff of the Press had an interview with him yesterday, mainly upon his personal experiences aa separated from the mission work, that ground being covered by htm In the addresses given on Sunday last, and also the one de* livered last night in the Oddfellows' Hall. The details of his connection with the Mission, his march for three and a half months from the coast to the lake, end his experiences of Tippoo Tin. which are given below, will no doubt be ..read with interest. JOINING THE MISSION. . "I was a shipmaster sailing ont of the port of London," eaid Captain Hore, "and in the year 18771 was attached to the preliminary expedition which was being sent out by the London Missionary Society to Central Africa to attempt to plant the Mission on Lake Tanganyika. I was attached to it as scientific officer, And. it was my duty to make a survey of the road, maps, &c, and to keep a diary of observations. Wβ were Biz in number, and we started from Saadoni on the coast for Ujlji* Saadoni, I may say, is a village of some six hundred native huts, nestling; in amongst cocoa palms on the coast. Well, the expedition started on what was then a most difficult and toilsome march. Of the original six, two died, three went back, and I was left in sole charge of the mission expedition. I got through, however, and remained at the Lake for two years until reinforcements arrived from home. This was in 1880. Wβ then established three stations, with two missionaries at each, and then I went home to England. In 1882, whilst at Home, I drew the plans for a steel steamer to navigate the lake, and also a sailing boat to communicate with the different stations. The steamer was delivered by the Assam Trading Company, and the boat I took out with mc. Do arrival at. Saadoni I ..organised an expedition to convey the boat, stores, &&, to Ujijii and I had under my command 900 natives, which exceeded by 100 the number with which Stanley started. We were three and a half months on the road to UJiji. I had not the slightest trouble with the natives, nor do I think any would occur except for the very foolish way in which the Germans event to work in East Africa. They commenced wioh a system of displaying nags, beating drums, and otherwise provoking hostility, so that the news went forth that the white men were coming to attack the natives. This travelled throughout the tribes to such an extent that wherever white men were seen the natives got their forces ready, so as to repel what they expected was intended as an attack upon them. Then there has. grown up a class of half-castes who have got the natives a bad character. These men are always going on forays against white men, and no distinction seems to be made between them and the natives. The latter, when treated with confidence, are perfectly friendly, and during the whole of our long march we, never had the slightest trouble whatever. I STANLEY AND TIPPOO TIB. With regard to Stanley and Tippoo Tib I will tell you my experience of the latter. T.found him a firm friend of ours, and I have * had every opportunity of seeing what he really is, because he has enter* talned mc and I have him on more than one occasion. He is looked upon by the Arabs and the other tribes as a Prince, and a powerful ruler, and he has always acted towards the mission in the most honorable and friendly manner. In fact, if it had not been for his protection and support our mission would have had to be abandoned, and our Directors afe Home, who are not wont to be enthusiastic without due cause, have for two years in their annual reports acknowledged the services of Tippoo Tib in this direction. The Bong of the Belgians, as you are doubtless aware, has acquired the control of the Congo Free State, of which Tippoo was appointed Governor. The dispute between him and Stanley arose from the fact thab Tippoo had promised to supply six hundred men. Bab circumstances arose which made his ability to hold the post very doubtful, and he had to inform the King of the Belgians that unless he received reinforcements of men and supplies of ammunition he could not do -so. At this time "Stanley called upon Tippoo to fulfil his promise of the supply of the 800 men, but under the circumstances which I have detailed it was impossible for him to do so. Hence Stanley s bitterness against Tippoo. But as I have said I have always found Tippoo strictly honorable, and a staunch friend to us. Now with regard to New Zealand. I have travelled over bouth Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria, but 1 must say I have not seen any colony with which I am so much delighted as New Zealand. I am particularly so with regard to Canterbury. When I heard of the great plains of Canterbury, I supposed that it was a desert. This, yon know was pardonable to one who has lived so long in Africa as myself. But I was greatly surprised and delighted to find the wide expanse of plains* beautifully verdant and highly cultivated. lam greatly taken with the appearance of Christchurcn. It reminds mc strongly of a Cathedral town in England, and. is essentially English, far more so than any part of the colonies I have seem We go to che North Island on mission work, and then I intend to return home through (America.
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Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7718, 25 November 1890, Page 5
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1,024IN CENTRAL AFRICA. Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7718, 25 November 1890, Page 5
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