The Congo and Coasts of Africa   By: Richard Harding Davis (1864-1916)

By

RICHARD HARDING DAVIS, F.R.G.S.

AUTHOR OF "SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE," "THE SCARLET CAR," "WITH BOTH ARMIES IN SOUTH AFRICA," "FARCES," "THE CUBAN AND PORTO RICAN CAMPAIGNS"

ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE AUTHOR AND OTHERS

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK 1907

[Illustration (Frontispiece): Mr. Davis and "Wood Boys" of the Congo.]

TO

CECIL CLARK DAVIS

MY FELLOW VOYAGER ALONG THE COASTS OF AFRICA

CONTENTS

I THE COASTERS 3

II MY BROTHER'S KEEPER 32

III THE CAPITAL OF THE CONGO 55

IV AMERICANS IN THE CONGO 93

V HUNTING THE HIPPO 118

VI OLD CALABAR 142

VII ALONG THE EAST COAST 176

ILLUSTRATIONS

MR. DAVIS AND "WOOD BOYS" OF THE CONGO Frontispiece

MRS. DAVIS IN A BORROWED "HAMMOCK," THE LOCAL MEANS OF TRANSPORT ON THE WEST COAST 10

A WHITE BUILDING, THAT BLAZED LIKE THE BASE OF A WHITEWASHED STOVE AT WHITE HEAT 22

THE "MAMMY CHAIR" IS LIKE THOSE SWINGS YOU SEE IN PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS 28

A VILLAGE ON THE KASAI RIVER 42

"TENANTS" OF LEOPOLD, WHO CLAIMS THAT THE CONGO BELONGS TO HIM, AND THAT THESE NATIVE PEOPLE ARE THERE ONLY AS HIS TENANTS 52

THE FACILITIES FOR LANDING AT BANANA, THE PORT OF ENTRY TO THE CONGO, ARE LIMITED 56

"PRISONERS" OF THE STATE IN CHAINS AT MATADI 60

BUSH BOYS IN THE PLAZA AT MATADI SEEKING SHADE 70

THE MONUMENT IN STANLEY PARK, ERECTED, NOT TO STANLEY, BUT TO LEOPOLD 82

THE Deliverance . THE RIVER RACED OVER THE DECK TO A DEPTH OF FOUR OR FIVE INCHES. BETWEEN HER CABIN AND THE WOOD PILE, WERE STORED FIFTY HUMAN BEINGS 86

THE NATIVE WIFE OF A Chef de Poste 90

ENGLISH MISSIONARIES, AND SOME OF THEIR CHARGES 98

THE LABORING MAN UPON WHOM THE AMERICAN CONCESSIONAIRES MUST DEPEND 106

MR. DAVIS AND NATIVE "BOY," ON THE KASAI RIVER 128

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS THAT DID NOT KNOW HE WAS DEAD 134

THE JESUIT BROTHERS AT THE WOMBALI MISSION 138

THERE, IN THE SURF, WE FOUND THESE TONS OF MAHOGANY, POUNDING AGAINST EACH OTHER 152

A LOG OF MAHOGANY JAMMED IN THE ANCHOR CHAINS 156

THE PALACE OF THE KING OF THE CAMEROONS 160

THE HOME OF THE THIRTY QUEENS OF KING MANGO BELL 164

THE MOTHER SUPERIOR AND SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH AND THEIR CONVERTS AT OLD CALABAR 168

THE KROO BOYS SIT, NOT ON THE THWARTS, BUT ON THE GUNWALES, AS A WOMAN RIDES A SIDE SADDLE 172

GOING VISITING IN HER PRIVATE TRAM CAR AT BEIRA 182

ONE HALF OF THE STREET CLEANING DEPARTMENT OF MOZAMBIQUE 190

CUSTOM HOUSE, ZANZIBAR 194

CHAIN GANGS OF PETTY OFFENDERS OUTSIDE OF ZANZIBAR 198

THE IVORY ON THE RIGHT, COVERED ONLY WITH SACKING, IS READY FOR SHIPMENT TO BOSTON, U.S.A. 202

THE LATE SULTAN OF ZANZIBAR IN HIS STATE CARRIAGE 206

H.S.H. HAMUD BIN MUHAMAD BIN SAID, THE LATE SULTAN OF ZANZIBAR 210

A GERMAN "FACTORY" AT TANGA, THE STORE BELOW, THE LIVING APARTMENTS ABOVE 214

SOUDANESE SOLDIERS UNDER A GERMAN OFFICER OUTSIDE OF TANGA 218

THE CONGO AND COASTS OF AFRICA

I

THE COASTERS