A TRAVELLER FROM THE CONGO.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 424, 30 November 1889, Page 3

A TRAVELLER FROM THE CONGO.

Mr Hkrtjert .Ward, an 'old boy', of the Mill-hill Grammar School, lectured in Lotuion lately on his experie ces of travel in Central Africa, and his work in connection with the Congo State. Mr Ward joined I the Emm Pasha Expedition under Mr Stanley in March, ISB7, and was one of the live officers in charge of the ill-fated camp on the Aruvvhimi, where Stanley's l^ar-guard was located., He is at this moment the last white man who has returned to England from association with Mr Stanley's latest explorations in Africa. Mr Ward, in the course of his lecture, explained that he first went to Africa in 1884, when after returning from Borneo', where he had spent some years in the interior among the head-hunting Dyaks, he entered the service of the King of the Belgians. The first year and a half ho spent in travelling among the tribes of the Lower Congo. He applied himself to learning their language, and to obtaining as much information as possible about their customs and 'superstitions. They proved to be mo3t ignorant and most superstitious. They lived in small villages scattered about the country, and in no single instance was ■a ruler to be found with morV than a few hundred subjects. The greatest obstacle to progress and enlightenment in this portion of Africa was a functionary known to the natives, as the'Nga'nga' 2>Tkissi,' or charm doctor. Indeed, some of their beliefs wero , quite ,past comprehension. For instance, they carved images which they considered to be endowed with a supernatural power. In times of drought they talked to these images, and supplicated them to influence the elements that rain might come. Pec'ple whom they suspected of being in league with the, unprppitious elements they caught and kept' bound as ptisoners until the rains arrived ; then they set them free. In the event of a man's death a large meeting was held, and the services of the Nganga Nkissa were called in. The doctor appeared, attired in a feather headdress, with eyelids painted white, and blood-smeared. Around his waist hung a number of wild cat-skin 3, while over his left shoulder hung branches of charms, leopards' claws, and snakes' heads. The chard doctor went through a series of antics, and eventually pitched upon some unfortunate wretch, whom he accused of having 'eaten the spirit of the deceased.' Then followed the cruel ordeal by poison. In the event of the miserable scapegoat succumbing to the effects of the highly poisonous decoction of bark administered to him,, 'his- neighbours rejoiced in what they considered the evident justice of the punishment. The lecturer then - related several unique stories characteristic of the people of this district and their curious superstitions, bringing his audience up to the point when he was put" in command of the station at Bangala. It would be remembered, he observed, that it was at Banga'a that Stanlej had his most serious fight with the natives, in the course of his memorable journey through the Dark Continent,

A Canxibal Race. The Bangalas were a large and powerful * tribe, and in addition to being highly savage and ferocious, they were cannibals. They did not, however, eat people of I heir own tribe. It was only the miserable captivea and purchased slaves that they devoured. This, important tribe was at that time governed by a magnificent specimen of the African ravage, Mata Bwiki by name. He was an old man over 6ft. high. At the commencement of his command at this station Mr Ward was forced to undergo the ' blood brotherhood ceremony ' in coniunction with this remarkable potentate. This ceremony, which Mr Ward brieily described, was, he said, practised throughout, savage Africa. An incision was made in the arm of each of the two participators in it. When Lhe . blood flowed the wounds were sprinkled with potash, salt, and a powder made from a species of bean. Then the two incised arms were rubbed together, so that the flowing blood might intermingle. This done, the owo men became * blood brothers,' and both swore that in times of need they would assist each other. - Mr Ward then gave a graphic desciiption of how at the end of two and a half years, when he was on his way down country to the coast to embark for Europe, having fulfilled his term of service, he met Stanley.

How He Joined Stanley. He happened to be able to render Stanley a most tiinelv service by engaging and taking down country with him some hundreds of natives for the manual transport of the loads of merchandise and ammunition which Stanley was taking into Central Africa. Mr Ward was left in command of the first camp of the expedition at Bolobo, Stanley in the meanwhile proceeding oij .;toL , the Aruwhimi, where he made an intrenched camp, which he lefb in command of Major Barttelot and Mr Jameson. Stanley left that camp oil the 19th of June, 1887, and, accord-" ing to his plans, he expected he would, return again after having visited Emm Pacha about November. In due course Mr Ward arrived at the Aruwhimi camp with his men. In March, 1888, no news 'haying been received of Stanley, the situation was considered critical, and it was decided that one of Mr Ward's party, should proceed to the coast by.forciug-a way through the Upper Congo by canoe, .with the object of communicating by cable with the committee of the expedition in London. Mr Ward was selected for this arduous task, which he successfully performed, accompanied by 35 Zanzibar is and Soudanese soldiers. In reply to his message the committee directed him to return. On his way back news reached Mr Ward of the assassination of Major Barttelob ab Bonalya. Further ill-fortune was in store, for information soon arrived that Mr Jameson was ill at Stanley. Falls. Mr Ward hurried to the river side, and found his iriend lying in a canoe in a dying state. On the following evening the unfortunate young traveller died. Nothing remained for Mr Ward but to proceed again to tho* coast and communicate this sad news to the committee in London. The journey* down the Congo to Stanley Pool occupied " about a month. In reply to Mr Ward's cable, a message came instructing him to return to the Aruwhimi camp, and to take command there. On reaching Stanley Pool, Mr Waid heard of Stanley's return-" to Bonalya, the scene of Major Barttelot's mnrder, and that he had taken with him all the men and loads that were at that time ab Bonalya. Mr Ward continued his journey, however, in order to collect together tho sick men who had been left on account of their inability to walk when Major Barbtelot struck camp in the Aruwhimi. He remained at Stanley Falls as tjie guest of Tippoo Tib for a month, Tippo Tib, remarked Mr Ward, was a nickname, the well known personage actually calling himself Hamad Bin Mohammed. After calculating how -few of the men of the expedition were lelt alive, Mr Ward lashed two canoes together and descended the Congo. Tho jouvney of over 1,000 miles toqk 28 days and nights. Of this distance about one-thiid was tluough hostile tenitory, whose inhabitants weie cannibals. Acting then on his instructions, Mr Waril embarked for Europe, and arrived in London on the Ist of July last with the few I Zanzibaris who had managed to survive the-. I hardships of the long journey.