MR STANLEY'S EXPLORATION.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 762, 21 June 1877, Page 2

MR STANLEY'S EXPLORATION.

Thr. 'New York Graphic' is credited with the following ' skit' on Mi- Stanley's letters from-Gen' tral Africa :— f '

Uld Rambuster disputed our passage through his Kingdom. He demanded as the price of passage through his territory, 40,000 casks of rum and a hundred white wives. I was obliged to parley with the old fellow, and after six days of incessant palaver reduced his demands to a pint of gin and a worn out razor. 'Yours are a wonderful people,' said old Rambuster, as he smacked his lips over the fee he had exacted. His Cabinet, who were with him, waited in vain for a drop. Rambuster noting signs of impatience among them and divining the ..cause, had., them killed on the spot. 'Cabinets,' he remarked, 'must be taught to know- their place. I alwarakill mine when they act contrary to. my wishes, and salt them down. There is always plenty of good material at hand to form new C abinets. Besides my policy in this matter keeps down aspirants for my place,' Rambuster has been a great fighter. He had lost all his limbs in battle, legs and arms he had none, nose and ears were bfcben oft, and one eye was-gouged out. 'My bones are whitening- #a many a. battivi Held,' he said onoe, proudly, ' yet"* with one of your former great statesmen I can, with propriety, say, 'I still.live.'

He has recently conquered the neighbouring province Vum-y um, and annexed it to his own kingdom, having killed all the inhabitants aiid salted them clown for the winter's provision. 'lt is my way of living on the enemy,' he remarked. He had heard of the duel. «l' tutsfc that the "that James Cf

'is "coming truie>/ Ke sai3 ;' I Would marry juui rtp my* two eldest daughters and give him the Kingdom of Polo; ,'l)o yO\r think he would like Polo ?' he asked?.. I told him that my chief would probably like Polo better than the girls.' ' And possibly better than his father-in-law, too,' said the mutilated old wretch. ' But he need not fear me; I would confer on'him ample and thorough matrimonial sovereignty. Besides, there is no ~-\ mother in-law ;. I ate her six* months V ago. She was a rare woman ; she ■*"• was tender ; I- fattened her up to 400 pounds. / We still have some of n u the royal lai'der. Tell your chief that if he comes and marries in our family he can for a time live on his mother-in-law if not with her.'