MISSIONARIES AND THE ARABS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 302, 26 September 1888, Page 3

MISSIONARIES AND THE ARABS.

As bearing upon the cable news from Africa the following, per the Kaikoura's mail, is of special 'interest : — A letter has been received by an Edinburgh gentleman from a relative in the Lake Nyassa region of Central Africa, giving information down to the middle of May. - He furnishes an idea of how matters were at that time in the lake region, the tidings being brought down from the lake by the Ilala. Mr Buchanan, acting-consul, has gone with a party to endeavour to make peace with the Arabs, after which he left for the South. The party on board the Jlala, assisted by natives with guns, and backed up by Wankonda warriors with spears, prepared to attack the stockaded towns of the Arabs, marching from the intrenchmenb at Karongas to Salema's town, six miles distant. Firing was commenced from behind an immense ant heap, with an elephant gun and fiery darts, the latter of which set fire to the thatched huts of the Arabs. A ' crow's nest ' for Arab sharpshooters was demolished, and it is said that Salema, the head chief, was killed ab this time. A rush was to have been made by the besiegers, who were to have been signalled by the leader of the party, but as he raised his arm to signal it was shattered by an Arab bullet, and in the interval the Arabs from another town — Kopa Kopa — sallied out and attacked the right flank of the whites, but were driven back. A council of war was held, when two came away on the Ilala, and seven whites remained to defend themselves until reinforcements arrived. The writer sroes on to say : — ' It is nob a mere company squabble with the Arabs. It is on their side a war of extermination. They wish to root out from the region the influence of the white people, and while at present it is merely a few of the Arabs who are trying to drive us out (we having the goodwill of others of bhe same class), there are sufficient scoundrels round the lake who will unite, if success is likely, to make it impossible for white men, whether missionaries or traders, to exist. We may soon be fighting for our lives. 1 The horrors of slavery and Arab atrocity are, he says, despite what England may think, very real, and Lake Nyassa is the very centre of the brutal trade. He is of opinion that a gun boat on Nyasea, one on Tanganyika, and a few handy men at the business could make things as snug as possible over thousands of miles. There were a strong party at Mandala, and these should give the Arabs a thorough dressing. The towns about to be stormed by a party which go to the front are well stockaded with bullet-proof wood. He adds that there are rumours, which may prove unfounded, that the Rev. Stewart Wrightand a Mr Jones have been murdered. Inquiries will be made at Tanganyika.