STANLEY'S IMPEESSIONS OF WHITE MEN.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3013, 11 October 1878, Page 4

STANLEY'S IMPEESSIONS OF WHITE MEN.

Mr Stanley, in his book, " Through the Dark Continent" graphically describes the impressions produced upon him by the first sight of European faces after his long ■journey' in the interior of Africa. On the 9th' of August, 1877, the 999 th day from the date of his departure from Zanzibar, he was, met by the European residents of Bbma, a factory near, the mouth of the river, whose timely assistance had preserved his expedition from disaster, when within a short distance of the deßiredjjoal.'', ? W,e had gradually descended s^froOOft, along declining spurs - when we wRy a scattered string of hammocks appearing, and gleams of startling ' whiteness, such as were given by fine linen and twills. A buzz of wonder ran along our column. Proceeding a little further we stopped, and in a short time I was face to face with four white—ay, truly white men! As I looked into their faces, I blushed to find I was wondering at their paleness. Poor pagan Africans —Ewoma of Uzinji, and man-eating tribes of the Livingstone ! The whole secret of "their wonder and curiosity flashed upon me at once. What arrested the twanging bow and the deadly 'trigger of the cannibals ? What but the weird pallor of myself and Frank! In the same manner the sight °f tne Pa^e faces of the Embomnaa merchants gave me the slightest suspicion 'of an involuntary shiver. The pale colour, after so long gazing on rich black and richer bronze, had something of an unaccountable ghastliness. :I could not divest myself of the •feeling that they. must,.be^sick ; yet, as I compare their complexions' to what I now view, I should say they were olive; sunburnt, dark. Yet there was something very self-possessed about the carriage of these white men. It was grand; a little setepride-mixed \ with cordiality. I could not remember just then witnessed such bearing among any tribe throughout Africa. They spoke well also; the words they uttered hit the sense pat; without gesture, "they were perfectly intelligible. , How strange I It was quite delightful] to observe the slight nods of the head; the intelligent facial, movements were admirably expressive. 'They were completely clothed, and neat also; I ought to say immaculately clean. Jaunty straw hats, coloured neck - ties, _ patent leather boots, wellcut white clothes,' virtuously clean! I looked from them to my people, and then I fear I felt almost like being grateful to the Creator that I was not black as they, and that these finely dressed, well-spoken whites claimed me as friend and kin. Yet I did not dare to place myself upon an equality with ilhem as yet; the cklm blue and grey eyes rather awed me, and the immaculate purity of their clothes I was content tp suppose myself a kind of connecting link between the white and the African for the time being." .