IN THE HEART OF AFRICA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5733, 28 November 1896, Page 7

IN THE HEART OF AFRICA.

In the October Century is printed a third article made up from the journals of the late E. J. Glave, who died ou the Congo after crossing Africa in the interests of that magazine. The article is entitled " Glave in Mid - Africa," and contains graphic descriptions of life iv the Dark Continent. Here is one : : — A GENTLEMANLY CHIEETAIN. . July 31. — Yesterday, on arriving at Kisunkf-'s tho chief was absent, so I made camp outside the village. I then sent a messenger to Kisunka, informing him of my arrival. He sent word that he was at a small village of his a few miles off, and asked me to come in the morning and see him there. However at early morning to-day a messenger came ,to my camp from him saying that during the night Kisunka had reflected that it would be more hospitable to come to see me, as I was 'a stranger. In the forenoon the old fellow arrived at his village, and informed me by messenger thp.t ho would lake a. rest, and then come to see me. I sent back a suitable message, stating that I was precludod from visiting him by a bad foot. In the afternoon Kisunka appeared, a handsome African, seventh* years old, I should say, tall, and as trimly built as a greyhound, of very dark hue ; look 3 black against the other natives. He was accompanied by about fifty of liis young warriors, fine, strapping fellows, healthy and slick, armed with bows and arrows and spears and a few guns. Many came into my boma, but the chief ordered the remainder to stay outside. But as soon as the old fellowwas seated, those outside could not repress their curiosity to see and hear all that was going on inside. Tlie chief told me his eniiro belongings were mine during my ; stay. He was uneasy, owing to tho impetuosity of his followers, and left early so as to restore peace and quiet. During the whole day the camp has been crowded with native men aud women and children trading thoir corn and miara and manioc, hairpins, copper ornaments, &c., for beads and cloth. There has been no squabbling, nothing to mar the general good feeling. It is absolutely impossible to do, any literary work from the hubbub constantly maintained from morn to night. If you close the tent the heat becomes insufferable ; as soon as y6*ti open it, a solid mass of Africans stop the current of air. Old aud young are in constant boisterous conversation, discussing and arguing about you and your property : and those not so engaged are shouting at the top of their voices, telling their friends not to make such a din. It is difficult to produce any sort of camera for the first time without creating a stampede. The nozzle holding the lens is always considered some sort of gun. I always show them some photographs beforehand, and try to convince them of the purpose of the camera, and I generally succeed when I stay over a day in a village. August 1. — I visited old Kisunka today. He has a fine, largo village of about three hundred huts and a host of small granaries. When he came to see me yesterday, I toid him I had heard of a white man being at Mlela Mange, and I was anxious to send a message to him. Immediately on returning to his village, ho sent me two fine strapping fellows, to whom I paid a fee of two yards of blue cloth each, .gave them the letter, and off they started 'at a dog-trot. It is a very busy village ; the blacksmith's bellows consist of two bags of softened buckskin, which his assistant grasps, one with each hand, and works them. They are both tied to a nozzle of wood or clay tubing pointing to a charcoal fire. The blacksmith has very primitive tools, an anvil of hard stone, a hammer of iron — but then he turns out excellent work. I have never seen the process of smelting, but all the Wau3i and Walala obtain their iron by smelting from the rough ore. Tlie furnaces are made of clay, charcoal is the heating power, and the pure melted iron runs free through clay tubing. August 2. — Kisunki. furnished me with two guides to Kasembi : they arrived in good time this morning, with hair trhnmed, and wearing the cloth 1 gave them yesterday.' Kisunka himself came to see me off. By some Kisunka would be called a savage. According to my judgment, he is a gentleman, a man of character and personal force, whose commands are obeyed by some thousands of people.