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A Journal of a Tour in the Congo Free State By: Marcus Roberts Phipps Dorman |
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by MARCUS R. P. DORMAN, M.A. Author of A History of the British Empire in the Nineteenth
Century. The Mind of the Nation , A Study of Political Thought in
the Nineteenth Century; Ignorance , a Study of the Causes and
Effects of Popular Thought; and From Matter to Mind . Originally published in 1905 by J. Lebègue and Co., Brussels and
Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd., London Dedicated by Permission to
His Majesty Leopold II,
King of Belgium and Sovereign of the Congo Free State.
PREFACE.
This journal is practically my Diary reproduced with the minimum of
editing in order that the impressions gained on the spot should be
described without modification. It was never intended for publication,
and was written only as an aid to memory. Consequently it is little more
than a collection of rough notes. Having left England with a prejudice against the Government of the Congo
Free State and returned with a very strong feeling in its favour, I feel
however that it is my duty to publish an account of what I did see for
the benefit of those whose opinions are not already formed beyond
recall. As in all controversies where feelings subordinate reason and people
judge more by their emotions than by evidence, many are too quick to day
to attribute interested motives to those whose opinions are not similar
to their own. Since a great number of people in the Congo and at home
are curious to know whether I was sent out by the Congo Government, the
British Government or the Times , I will state here once for all that I
went to the Congo entirely to please myself and with the hope of
shooting big game. In order indeed to satisfy curiosity, I will go
further and state that not only was I not paid for telling the truth,
but that the trip cost me a great deal of money. It is however delightful to remember that wherever I went I was treated
with the greatest kindness and courtesy by all whether they approved of
the system of the Congo Government or not and it gives me great pleasure
to thank here the State officials, Missionaries of all denominations and
Traders of various nationalities for their hospitality, friendship and
valuable assistance. M.R.P.D. London 1905. [Illustration: MAP ITINERARY OF MARCUS R.P. DORMAN IN
THE CONGO FREE STATE] [Illustration: THE STEAMER FLORIDA .]
CHAPTER I. London to Banana.
There was no time to spare. The ship sailed from Southampton in forty
eight hours and I had only just arranged to accompany Lord Mountmorres
on a tour in the Congo Free Stale. He was going out for the purpose of
discovering the true condition of affairs in that country and of writing
articles thereupon for the Globe but incidentally hoped to have some
big game shooting. After one has read much about a country it is always
interesting to visit it and as the prospect of good sport was added in
this case, I at once decided to brave the cannibals, wild beasts,
and most dangerous of all the climate, and to seize the opportunity to
visit the Congo. It was necessary to purchase a complete camp outfit, suitable clothes
and much food stuff and to arrange certain affairs at home. The first
part was however rendered easy for it was only necessary to duplicate
the order already given by Lord Mountmorres, and with a rapidity which
could not be equalled anywhere else, the Army and Navy Stores and
Messrs. Silvers packed and despatched tent, furniture and cases in a few
hours. As there are many and varied discomforts which cannot be avoided when
travelling in the Congo, or any other tropical and half civilised
country, it is just as well not to add to their number by omitting to
benefit by the experience of others. A few hints may therefore be
inserted here without apology for the benefit of other travellers. The
first articles to be considered are a tent, bed, and mosquito net. Now
when the usual oblong tent with a penthouse roof is pitched and the bed
made, surmounted by the mosquito net, the only place in which there is
room for it, is in the middle of the tent between the two poles... Continue reading book >>
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