Mr. H. M. Stanley's New Book.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5896, 30 July 1890, Page 4

Mr. H. M. Stanley's New Book.

"IN DARKEST AFRICA."

No. I. (Coii'inued)

Dancing in Africa, Mr Stanley rarmnd_ us, chiefly consists of rude buffoonery, <?* 8 travnjjaiit gestures, leaping, and of the body to the dismaland sound of one or many drums. " Often tw men step out of a circle ef their fellow - villagers and ebant a duet to the sound of a drum, amid the universal clapping of hands, or ono performs a solo whilo dressed most fantastically in cocks' feathers, strings of rattling gourds, small globular bells, and heaps of hujtiAß, monkey, and crocodile teeth, which are tho African jewels. But there must always bo a chorus, and the grander the better, for when men, women, and children lift their voices high above the drums and the chatter and murmurs of tho crowd, I must confess to having enjoyed it immensely, especially when tho Wanyanweza are the performers, who aro by far the best singers on the African continent." The most impressive dance, however, which Mr Stanley witnessed, was the phulanx of the Bandussuma, which was performed in his presence, and largely, we gather, in his honor, by June Mazaniboni's warriors—a thousand strong—at Usiri. " Tho phalanx stood still, with spears grounded, until at a sign from the drums the deep voice of their leader, Katto, was heard breaking out into a wild, triumphant song or chant, and at once rose a forest of spears high above their heads, and a mighty chorus of voices responded, and the phalanx ■was seen to movo forward, and tho earth around my chair, which was at a distance of 50 yards from tho foremost lino, shook as though there was an earthquake. I looked at the feet of the men and discovered that each man was gracefully stamping the ground and taking forward steps not more than Bis inches long, and it was in this juanner that the phalanx moved slowly, but irresistibly. The voices roso and fell in sweeping waves of vocal sound, the forest of spears roso and subsided, with countless flashes of polished iron blades as thoy wore tossed aloft and lowered again to the hoarse and exciting thunder of tho drums. Thero was accuracy of cadence of voiit and roar of drum, there was uniform uplif I and subsidence of the constantly twirlinp spear blades, thero was a simultaneous action of the bodies, and as they broughl the tremendous weight of 70 tons of ilesl with ono regular stamp of the feet on the ground, tho firm and hard earth echoei the sound round about tremulously. Witl all these the thousand heads rose ant drooped together, rising when renting tin glorions volume of energy, drooping witl the underlouo of wailing murmurs of tin multitude. As they shouted with face turned upward and heads bent back to givi the fullest eiTect to the ascending tempos <»f voices, suggestive of quenchless fury •wrath, and exterminating war, it nppearoi to inflate every hou! with tho passion o deadly buttlo, and every oyo of the onlooker glowed luridly, and their right arms vitl clenched lists were shaken on Jiigh us tlu.'ir spirits were thrilled wilh the mnrtin strains, but us the heads w<-re turned an< buwcd to ciirlh we seemed to fool war' ugoiiv, anil irriof and woe, to think of tear and widows waile, and fatueiless orphan* crie*, of ruined hearths and a desolated land But again, n* the mass, still steadily draw ing nearer, tos>ed their heads backward and. the bristling blades flushed and clashed and tho feathers streamed and girily rustled there was a, luuil snort of defiance, and sue! an exulting and finergismg storm of houik that man saw only the glorious colors o victory, and felt only tho proud pulses o triumph. Right up to my chair tin great solid muss of wildly chanting native: advanced, ami the front Jino lowered theii speaks in an even lino of bright iron ; thric< tbey dropped their salute, and thilcc thej rose, and theu tho lines, one aflor another broke into a run, clenched in tho ac of ibrowiufr, .staffs quivering , , w.'U'whoop! riuging shrilly. The excitement was intensified until the i-cruaro had been tnuirformei into wheeling circled three deep, and aftei throe eirulvugs round tho op;;n pluiu Frinc< Katto took 3us position, and round him tin racing men coiled themselves, until soot they were in soiid circle. When this win completed the square w;is formed; it wai divided into two halves, ono-hulf roturuiujj to one end and tlo other half to the othei end. Still continuing the wild chaat the} trotted towards one another, ami passec through without confusion, exchangine side:*; and then one« more in a rapid circling of the village common with deadful gestures, until the eyo was bewildered, with tho wheeling form?, and then every man to his hut tc laugh and jest, little herding what aspect* the}' had coujiired by their evolutions and chants wi'hiu me or anyone else. It was certainly one of tho best and most exciting exhibitions I had seen in Africa." Diseipliun was difficult to maintain amongst tho natives who formed the rani and file of tho relief expedition, and thii wits especially the casa when disease madt havoc in the little avasy which Stailey led, and p.ivations formed the common lot, J>evertbelets, Stanley pays a generous and warm-hearted tribute to the character, patience, and endurance of at all events the great bulk of the poor fellows who followed him through his wilderness perils, whilst again and again he spe-iksin glowing term* of the devotion and ability of his own officers. Tho s&vcri officers commanding companies in the expedition were Mujoi Barttelot, Captain Nelson, Lieutenant Stairs, Mr Mounteney Jephson. Mr JumeHun, Mr Noup, and Dr. Parko. Mr Willi'im Bonny took charge of transport and riding animals and live stock, aud also helped Surgeon Parke when necessary. The following , orders -were issued by Stanley : - " Jilauh oiikf-r is personally responsible for tho good behavior of his company and tbo condition of arms and accoutrements. Officers will frequently inspect cartridgepouches of their men, and keep record to prevent wile of ammunition to natives or Arabs. For trivial offences a slight corpora', punipl'ineiit only can ho inflicted, unci this a.» seldom as possible. Officers will exercise discretion in this matter, aud ondeavor to avoid irritating the men by boiug too exacting or showing unnecessary fiiss'iness. It has l;een the rule for me to" bo greatly forbearing. Let the rule be three pardous for one putuMiiuent. Officers will please renumber that the labor of the men ia sever", their burdens aro heavy, the climate hot, the marches fiitigiiMig, niul tho rations poor Hiid often scanty. Under such conditions human nature is extremely susceptible : therefore punishments should bo judicious, iiiut vexatious, to prevent straining patience too much. Nevertheless, discipline must be taught, and when necessary enforced for Ihe js'ouerAl well-being. Serious ofi'c'ncc-.-all'tcting tho expedition generally will be dealt with by me. While on cl-'phoardonu officer will be detailed to perform tho duties of the day. Ho must tee to the distribution of rations, ship cJwnied, .-md that no fighting or wi-uuglvig occurs us knifing soon follows unk'.-.s chfcfla'd ; that the animals urc fed and watered regularly. For ail j:ctty details apply to the senior officer, Major Biirlt.jlot." But it is time that we tv\ t from these oiliciiil details to Stanley's verdict on hi,; bravo subordinates when time and experience had i.-nabled him to spoalc with confidence eoi!'-en>in<r them.

" Jcpbsoii was in many tlr-i-js an exact dup ,; cale of myself in youi-cr days, before yeais and hundreds of fovera had cooled niv burning , blood, liv is exactly of my own height, build, weiirht, and tempormnc-nt. liv i:' siiuynine, confident, and ioves hard work. J-Jc i= .simply ; :aid ■whether it j.s i-liiSiy mire, or a muddy creek, in he esilira without hesitation, up tv his knees, waist, nock, or overhead, it is all the t.iiiiti. A .SyuariiC dainly uud fatt.idou.4 in cKilisat.ioi), a traveller and laborer in Africa, he i'i(jr e-i to be restan'ued and I'ouuMjlii'ii l'oc hi.i own take. Now these JOiniif iiu.,l, iSi:iirs, liolfion, and I'arke, are v«ry uiiieli ;n the mm Wiiy. Stairs is ihe iiiilitai-y uilicer, alert, ititul'igeut, who 1-jderei.aiuis a liint, a curt iuti;na(iou, gwit-ps au idea jirmly, and realises it lo perfection. Nl'l.-ou i.i Ctnttirion as of old Kutnan timua ; he eau execute because it is the will of his chief ; he dots not Ktay to the reason why ; he only undorstatitls it to be a necessity, ami his groat Blrongtii, r.j.-.oluuon, p.'ain good (sense, ia at my disposal, to act, Hull'er, or dio; and I'arke, iiobie, guntly boul, .so tender and devoted, m> paiieut, so sweet in mood and bravu_ iv temper, always indueiiig and diitutdtiiy comfort hh he moves through our atmosphere of ,-iiff :; riii- and pain. No four men ever ru.uved Africa with such (jualttius na tiiOte ; m. leader ever hail cau-:e to Je.-s his stars as I." We gatbur from the book that Dr. R.rko proved i'iniso'f ay:," 1 and again to bo the good anv-t'l of ib- exp-dii iua, and Siau'ey rei'evs >o L'ni in st-vt-aL j):ian'igi:ti with a wa-in.li of ii :i':\>(:v wlJieli kliow.s liiJivd'inlv *'it: yoisuy jiljvf.ie'tiii ;,a<l unde.ari 1 I'iiuseV', noi ol> y ,0 iljo sj!:v.;.-u!', Lint fo (lie Wuo'e wet. lid cd. .••..-..out tofcj o : : •\>rfj al'i'-lous ,o Luk e uuve) l [:r..e 'h a io-.iewi-'eh su".L,e-;s .-..v 1..,ve w'u f f;.:i' .!_; ;;V id ijad fo>: Jocailuiu. dot.or ' , .!.,: ,vn -\,}. So ,„!!■:■ /in Eavopr can y on: cc i; , - ■;. ;uy opirion. 'j'bore mar ,'c i.-:'-v j," : - ;..„• a ' ( l nt-hrfj .*, njo-o eki'«:i-'. o ; de'-c, ■ yoirvr:--, ;, s w ](J c; ,. le u] ., y be, IJUI f 'I! i :.,t. Hi Uii.i.l ij;;VD .-iUOt'-'bil!"- o lea.i Tom our <•,.,■......••. hiiea :t combiiKi.km <-i >v, -.■,,.■ .i ains .•-iinplici v ; SO UTiOifenutti...::s x> l ; ..•iiinn.ly ~i:nb • ! ni.-iVe We r.'e ;'. I:jit.u to L'va «; j ct)l V iof love.

We have seen Mm do so much out of pnro love for his ' ca6es ' that human nature becomes ennobled by this gem. He 18 tenderness itself. lie has saved many lives b}' his devoted nursing. . . • The doctor handles the swollen limbs, cleanses them from impurity, pours the soothing lotion, cheers the sufferers, binds up the painful wounds, and sends the patient away with a hopeful and gratified look. May the kindly angels record this nobleness ami obliterate all else. I greatly honor what is divine in man. This gift of gentleness and exquisite sensibility appeals to tne dullest. At Abu Klea our doctor was ] great, the wounded had cause to wtsb him, on the green sward of Kad-a.li, daily ministering to these suffering blacks, unknowing and unheeding whether any regarded him, our doctor was greater still. Concerning the horrors of the slave trade Stanley is very outspoken, and he denounces with righteous anger that lust of gold which has penetrated in these days even to the heart of Africa, spreading terror, creating panic, inspiring hatred, and awakening hostility to every white man. The Arab traders are rnthless to the iast degree, and their cruelty scarcely admits of exaggeration. Stanley thinks, indeed, that gunpowder—in the present stasre of African civilisation—ought to bo excluded from the country, for the poor tribes of the interior, with their bows and arrows and spears, aro no match for men who pounce down upon them armed with rifles and revolvers.

"The caravan is well armed and well manned by the proprietor, who stays at home on tho Congo or Lulaba river, indulging in rice and pilaf and tho excesses of his harem, whilst tbo head men, inspired by greed and cupidity, become ferocious and stern, and tho bandits fling themselves upon a settlement without mercy to obtain the largest sharo of loot, children, flocks, poultry, and ivory. All this would be clearly beyond their power if they possessed no gunpowder. Not a milo beyond their settlements would the Arabs and their followers dare venture. It is more than likely that if gunpowder was prohibited entry into Africa, there would be a general and quick migration to the sea of all Arabs from inner Africa, as the native chiefs would be immeasurably stronger than any combination of Arabs armed with upeai's. There is one remedy for these wholesale devastations of African aborigiues, and that is the solemn coiubir.iitton of England, Germany, France, Portugal, South and East Africa, and tho Congo State against tbe introduction of gunpowder into any part of the continent, j except for the use of their own agents, j soldiers, and employes." Mr Stanley goes or. to say that all the ivory which finds its way to European markets through the hands of the Arab traders has not merely been gained unlawfully, but at the cost of blood. " Every pound weight has cost the life of a man, woman, or child ; for every five pounds a hut has been burnt, for every two tusks a whole village has been destroyed, every twenty tusks have been obtained at the price of a district, with all its people, villages, and plantations. It is eimply incredible that, becauso ivory is required for ornaments or billiard games, tho rich heart should be laid waste at this late hour of tho nineteenth century, and that populations, tribes, and nations should bo utterly destroyed. "Whom, after all, does this bloody seizure of ivory enrich ? Only a few dozens of half-cisstes, Arab and negro, who, if due justice were dealt to them, should be made to sweat out tho remainder of their piratical lives in tho severest penal servitude."

(TO BE COKTINW9.)