STIRRING STORY FROM WEST AFRICA.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 278, 23 April 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

STIRRING STORY FROM WEST AFRICA.

Whun Lieutenaut Henderson went alone into the Sofa camp at Wa, in the Gold Coast hinterland, ho was at first treated as a prisoner, and his captors discussed before aud with him the manner in which he was to be put to death. The victim listened a while till ho was weary of it. "Oh, well," he said, " I can't be bothered with your arguments. I'm very sleepy ; let me know when you have made up your minds,'' and off to sleep he went. This unexpected performance sived his life. His calm indifference persuaded Samory's men that they had to do with someone of immense impors tance. Unwilling to take on theimelvethe responsibility for his death, they sent him unharmed to Samory's court in the Jimtni country. o;ice again Lieutenant Henderson saved himself by a like exhibition of courage. He found Samory on a throne surrounded by 4000 warriors ; yet when motioned to do homage of his hands and knees he did nothing of the sort. He simply sat on the throne beside Samory, shaking that monarch warmly by the '.■aud. Tnanks to this, and to nothing else, he was accepted as the resprescntative of a great sovereign, instead of a captive doomed to death. He talked to Samory of the Queen, and Samory talked of himself. Thus a mission which might have ended, as so many African missions have ended, in a terrible silence and a suspicion of unspeakable horrors, did in fact end in a valuable basis for future relations between Great Britain and a Mahometan power. Who shall say, ask 3 the " Outlook." that we have lost the dash and pluck of the Elizabethan adventurers ?