AT M'TESA'S COURT.--VISIT TO THE VICTORIA N'YANZA.--ASTONISHING THE
KING.
Continuing our acquaintance with M'tesa, King of Ugunda, it will be
interesting to hear the story of the conversion of that monarch to the
religion of Europe and America.
[Illustration: HENRY M. STANLEY.]
On page 202 of the first volume of "The Dark Continent," Stanley says as
follows:
"Since the 5th of April I had enjoyed ten interviews with M'tesa,
and during all I had taken occasion to introduce topics which would
lead up to the subject of Christianity. Nothing occurred in my
presence but I contrived to turn it toward effecting that which had
become an object to me--viz., his conversion. There was no attempt
made to confuse him with the details of any particular doctrine. I
simply drew for him the picture of the Son of God humbling himself
for the good of all mankind, white and black; and told him how,
when he was in man's disguise, he was seized and crucified by
wicked people who scorned his divinity, and yet, out of his great
love for them, while yet suffering on the cross, he asked his great
Father to forgive them. I showed the difference in character
between him whom white men love and adore, and Mohammed, whom the
Arabs revere; how Jesus endeavored to teach mankind that we should
love all men, excepting none, while Mohammed taught his followers
that the slaying of the pagan and the unbeliever was an act that
merited Paradise. I left it to M'tesa and his chiefs to decide
which was the worthier character. I also sketched in brief the
history of religious belief, from Adam to Mohammed. I had also
begun to translate to him the Ten Commandments; and Idi, the
Emperor's writer, transcribed in Kigandi the words of the Law, as
given to him in choice Swahili by Robert Feruzi, one of my boat's
crew, and a pupil of the Universities Mission at Zanzibar."
While Stanley was engaged in impressing the truths of the Christian
religion upon the mind of this African king, there came one day the
announcement that a white man was approaching from the north. The
stranger came, and proved to be Colonel Linant de Bellefonds, of the
Egyptian army, and at that time attached to the Soudan division, under
command of Gordon Pacha. Colonel Linant met Mr. Stanley at M'tesa's
palace, and the religious conversations were continued in his presence
from time to time. His arrival was a material assistance to Stanley in
converting the king; "for, when questioned," says Stanley, "about the
facts which I had uttered, and which had been faithfully transcribed, M.
Linant, to M'tesa's astonishment, employed nearly the same words, and
delivered the same responses. The remarkable fact that two white men who
had never met before, one having arrived from the south-east, the other
having emerged from the north, should, nevertheless, both know the same
things and respond in the same words, charmed the popular mind without
the 'burzah' (court), and was treasured in M'tesa's memory as being
miraculous."
In another place Stanley makes honorable mention of the poor Moslem
laborer, Muley bin Salim, who converted M'tesa from the paganism in
which Speke left him, and taught him the faith of Islam. Believing that
one conversion could be followed by another, Stanley determined to build
on the foundation laid by Muley bin Salim, by destroying the king's
faith in Islam and teaching him the doctrines of Jesus of Nazareth.
Colonel Linant, in his journal, makes an extended allusion to the good
accomplished by Stanley, and the hours which they both devoted to the
religious instruction of the king.[5]
[5] Colonel Linant de Bellefonds remained several weeks at M'tesa's
court, and then returned to Gondokoro, which he reached in safety. In
the month of August of the same year, while on another expedition, he
was massacred, with his entire party of thirty-six men, most of whom
were of the original "Forty" that accompanied Baker in his Soudan
campaign.
Doctor Bronson and his young friends made several excursions in the
neighborhood of Rubaga, and from the tops of the hills they enjoyed many
charming views of the country. The region is one of the prettiest in
Central Africa. There are few open plains or stretches of level land, as
in the Unyoro country, and the marshes that make other parts of Africa
so unhealthy are practically unknown. There is a succession of low
hills, backed in the distance by ranges of mountains, and from most of
the hill-tops the broad surface of the Victoria N'yanza is visible.
Between all the ranges of hills there are brooks flowing down to the
lakes, and as the rains are frequent in this part of the continent there
is rarely any lack of water.
The boys were eager to look upon the Victoria N'yanza, and not only to
look upon it, but to ride over its surface. The second day after their
exhibition of the powers of the telephone to the king an excursion was
made to Usavara, the station of the fleet of King M'tesa, at the head of
a small bay which opened out from the lake.
[Illustration: ON THE ROAD TO THE LAKE.]
It was about ten miles from Rubaga to Usavara. The king had caused a
fine road to be made from his palace to the lake. This road is ten or
twelve feet wide, and suitable for carriages, though no wheeled vehicle
had ever traversed it up to that time. Our friends made the journey on
horseback, and were delighted with their ride. They realized the
correctness of Stanley's description, who said it carried him through
jungle and garden, forest and field. There were groves of bananas,
plantains, and other products of Ugunda agriculture. There were forests
of tamarind, mimosa, gum, and other trees; and there were plantations of
the _ficus_, from whose bark the cloth for the national dress of the
people is made. The villages of dome-like huts formed an almost
continuous line, or would have done so if the dense foliage had not
concealed the most of them from sight.
Up the slopes and then down again the road took its meandering way, and
from each of the hill-tops a nearer view of the lake was obtained. The
sky was clear, and the heat at times severe, but it was relieved in some
measure by the foliage of the trees and by the breeze that blew from the
lake.
They were accompanied by a high officer of M'tesa's court, who was
instructed to show everything they wished to see. As they desired to
inspect some of the royal canoes, the officer sent an order to the place
where they were kept, and in a little while half a dozen boats came
dashing through the water.
[Illustration: UGUNDA BOAT.]
The boats were of a construction different from anything the youths had
ever seen. They were built with high, projecting prows, rising up like
the neck of a swan, and ornamented with a tuft of feathers and the horns
of an antelope. Some of the boats were hollowed from the trunks of
trees, while others were made of strips of planks fastened to frames. In
either case the sides were braced by means of cross-pieces, and the
largest of the boats had planks and canes laid upon the braces, so as to
form a deck. Frank compared the Ugunda boat to the Japanese sampan; but
Fred pointed out the difference in the height of the prows, and also the
fact that the sampan had a sort of cabin at the stern, which was not so
in the Ugunda craft.
The men paddled instead of rowing, and Abdul said the use of oars as we
employ them in America was almost unknown in Central Africa. The paddles
were neatly cut from thin planks, and each paddle had a straight handle,
terminating in a spoon-shaped point, hollowed a little, to give it a
better hold on the water.
Evidently the king's rowers knew their business, as they propelled their
craft through the water at an astonishing speed. Time was kept by a
steersman, who sung a monotonous chant, and the paddles rose and fell in
perfect unison. The boats were brought to the side of a little wharf
which extended to where the water was six or eight feet deep, and a
landing stage, consisting of a raft of reeds, furnished convenient
access to the craft.
Doctor Bronson and the youths were invited to enter one of the boats for
a ride down the bay. In a few minutes they were under way, at a speed of
at least six miles an hour, propelled by the strong arms of the sailors
of M'tesa's fleet. Where they entered the boat the bay was quite narrow.
Doctor Bronson said it was the body of water to which Speke gave the
name of Murchison Creek, while the water farther down was named
Murchison Bay, in order to identify it with the creek.
[Illustration: VIEW ON MURCHISON CREEK.]
Several boats were out on the water, and the scene was an animated one.
All of them were careful to keep out of the way of the king's craft,
and therefore the course was kept as straight as a sunbeam, except where
it became necessary to make slight deviations in consequence of the
winding of the shores. An hour's rowing brought them to a village which,
the officer explained, was one of the king's stations when he wanted to
enjoy himself on a fishing excursion, or when preparing for a battle
with his enemies on the other side of the lake. M'tesa has a powerful
enemy on the eastern shore, and not unfrequently they try the strength
of their boats against each other. One of these wars was in progress at
the time of Stanley's visit, and the great explorer was able to render
material assistance to M'tesa, and thereby win his friendship.
They did not go far enough down the bay to get a full view of the lake,
as the distance was not less than twelve miles, and time did not permit.
Frank and Fred were somewhat disappointed, but Doctor Bronson told them
they would doubtless have the opportunity of traversing the lake in a
few days, and therefore have all the fresh-water navigation they wanted.
[Illustration: HILLS BACK FROM THE LAKE.]
A little before sunset they went back to the point from which they
started, and spent the night in some huts the king had ordered set apart
for their use. The next morning they returned to Rubaga by another and
longer route, which gave them a good view of the country around the
capital of Ugunda. Everywhere were the villages, with their conical
huts, half-concealed among the trees; and the numerous plantations of
bananas and other edible things showed that the natives had no idea of
starving. The boys observed that most of the work in the fields was
performed by women. Abdul said the men were required by the king to
serve as soldiers or boatmen, but a large number of them had very little
to do from one month's end to another.
[Illustration: "ELEPHANT'S FOOT," OR "GOUTY-LIMBED," TREE.]
Fred called attention to some trees with very large trunks in proportion
to their limbs. He remarked the curiously formed stump, and said he
should call the tree by the name of "elephant foot," for the want of one
which would be more descriptive.
"That is the name it is known by," said Abdul in reply. "Some of the
native tribes call it the 'elephant's foot,' and it is also known as the
'gouty-limbed.' It belongs to the calabash family, and grows, as you
observe, on the poorer kind of soil. It takes up its location where most
of the other tropical trees decline to grow."
Everywhere they went the villagers came out to look at the strangers,
and, as at Rubaga, the horses attracted more attention than their
riders. One of them showed signs of illness, and just as they reached
the capital his strength gave way, and he was unable to stand. He lay
down in front of the hut that formed his stable, and in spite of every
exertion his keepers could not persuade him to get up and go inside.
In the morning he was somewhat better. It was impossible to decide
whether he was the victim of the dreaded tsetse-fly, or was simply
suffering from some equine ailment which could be cured by rest and
attention. All agreed that he must be kept as quiet as possible, and
whatever excursions were undertaken for the present must be made without
him. As a matter of precaution, it was decided that all three of the
horses should be kept in their stables for the remainder of the stay at
Rubaga.
In the afternoon the king sent for the Doctor and the youths to come to
an audience. They went accordingly, and the Doctor carried, as a present
to his majesty, a field-glass of great power--one of the best that could
be found in London or Paris.
M'tesa was greatly pleased with the gift, and suspended the interview in
order to try its powers. After devoting half an hour to levelling the
glass upon the huts and people within range and observing the effect, he
remarked that the glass and the "magic talker" ought to enable him to
see and hear everything in Rubaga without going away from home. He asked
if the white man could make glasses with which they could see in the
dark. The Doctor was about to answer in the negative, but a hint from
Frank caused him to give an evasive reply and promise to show something
new in a day or two.
When the experiments with the field-glass were ended M'tesa entered into
familiar conversation with the Doctor, and, among other questions, asked
if he was acquainted with "Stamlee."
Doctor Bronson answered that he knew Stanley, having met him many times
in New York and other places. The king had very little idea where New
York was situated, and his chief concern was to know that the two were
acquainted.
"Then if you know Stamlee," said he, "I suppose you will want to do just
as he did?"
"Certainly," said the Doctor, though with some misgivings, as he feared
he might be obliged to follow Stanley's example and assist the king to
subdue some of his enemies.
He was set at ease immediately by the king, who said he was at peace
with all his neighbors, and therefore there would not be the same
difficulty in going to the "Running N'yanza" as there was in Stanley's
time. The Doctor took the hint at once, and said they wished to visit
the "Running N'yanza," or the place where the river leaves the great
lake.
"Well," answered M'tesa, "you shall go to the Running N'yanza in a few
days, and I will give you boats to go with. You can come back by land,
and the porters will meet you at the falls."
Thus the plan of an excursion to the outlet of the Victoria N'yanza and
the visit to Ripon Falls was completed in a few minutes. Speke had great
difficulty in getting there at all; Long was obliged to ask many times
before he received permission to go there, and then he had to fight his
way down the river; and Stanley only succeeded in reaching the falls by
accompanying the king on a warlike expedition against one of his
rebellious tribes.
The "Running" or "Flowing N'yanza" is the name given to a river; while
"n'yanza," without any prefix, simply means water, and may apply to any
body of that liquid, from the contents of a drinking-cup up to one of
the great lakes, or even the ocean. This general use of the word was
sometimes confusing, but by degrees our friends came to understand it;
and as for the Running N'yanza, there could be no mistake about that.
[Illustration: TREES AND CLIMBING PLANTS IN CENTRAL AFRICA.]
Before they left the royal presence the king hinted that if the white
men had anything for seeing in the dark he would like to have it
produced. At Frank's suggestion, an appointment was asked for the
evening of the second day from that date, as it would be necessary to
unpack some of the cases and make arrangements which could not be
hurried.
The king gave the desired appointment, and the strangers went to their
zeriba. Fred was puzzled to know what Frank intended to do, and as soon
as they were out of hearing of the king he asked his cousin what he
meant by hinting that they could enable his majesty to see in the dark.
"Perhaps we cannot literally make him see in the dark," Frank
responded, "but we can go quite the distance in that direction. We'll
show him something he has never seen yet."
"What is that?"
"Gas."
"Where'll you get it?" Fred inquired.
"Make it ourselves," was the reply. "We haven't the New York Gas-Works
at hand, but we'll get up a substitute."
Fred made no reply, as he was well aware Frank had made his plans, or he
would not be so confident. Frank continued that he would explain his
process as soon as they reached the zeriba. He added that he should want
Fred to help him, and the latter immediately promised to do everything
he could to make the experiment successful.
"You know," said Frank, as soon as they were seated in their zeriba,
"how gas is made for illuminating purposes?"
"Certainly I do," was the reply, "for I learned that when I studied
chemistry."
"Just run over the process," Frank suggested.
"Let me see," responded his cousin. "The coal is baked in retorts, which
are generally made of clay. They are closed up tight as soon as the coal
is put in, and the hot fire beneath them causes the coal to give out its
gas, which is carried away by iron pipes."
"All right so far," said Frank.
[Illustration: CHARGING A RETORT IN A GAS FACTORY.]
"The retorts are set in a framework of brick, and look like small ovens.
The coal is put in with a long shovel, and after the retort is closed it
is baked four or five hours, when it is drawn out and replaced by a
fresh charge.
"The gas goes from the retorts to the purifier, which consists of a
series of pipes surrounded by water. It travels through these pipes till
it is thoroughly cooled and gives up the tar and other impurities
contained in it; then it passes through water and water-spray, to wash
away ammonia, another impurity; next it is forced through powdered lime,
to remove the sulphur contained in it; and then it goes to the
gasometer, whence it is carried in pipes to the places where it is to be
consumed."
[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF GAS-WORKS.]
"That's the whole story," responded Frank; "and I am going to make gas
on a small scale to amuse the king. We cannot make our gas as pure as it
is made in a large establishment, but we'll get it up so as to answer
our purpose."
With this understanding the boys went to work, and before night they had
accumulated most of the materials needed for their performance. From one
of the boxes Frank took a coil of rubber pipe and a slender
"drop-light," which he had brought along, with the consent of the
Doctor. A reflector, to be placed on this burner, was made by cutting an
empty provision-can so as to form a cone, and carefully cleaning the
surface of the tin on the inside. A small hand-mirror was mounted on a
pivot, so that it could be used for turning the light on any desired
point, and another mirror was arranged to be hung in front of the light
and rotated at will.
Half a dozen jars, with narrow mouths and covers to fit, were obtained
by the efforts of Abdul, and also a quantity of soft clay, for closing
them hermetically when desired. A couple of old gun-barrels were bought
from a native, to serve as tubes to carry the gas from the retorts to
the tub of water which was to serve as a purifier. A jar placed in this
water with its mouth downward was the gasometer, or receiver, and then
the apparatus was pronounced complete.
"But how'll you manage to take your gas from the receiver to the king's
palace?" said Fred.
"Oh, that's easy enough," was the reply. "You know we have a lot of
rubber bags for carrying things in and preserving them from the moisture
of the climate. We will make a small hole in the gas-receiver, and fill
the bags one after the other by placing them over this hole, which we
can plug with a cork when we want to close it.
"We can tie the mouths of the bags tight enough to prevent much loss,
and in this way carry the gas to the palace. The rubber tube will make
the connection from the bag to the burner. We can get sufficient
pressure by having a man sit on the bag while we are using the light;
and when we exhaust a bag, and want to replace it with a fresh one, we
can easily make some excuse for suspending operations a few moments."
"But you haven't any bituminous coal of the kind used for making gas,"
said Fred. "I suppose you've thought of that, and will use charcoal?"
"That is what I shall do," was the reply. "These people make charcoal,
as you know, and use it for smelting and working iron. I have told Abdul
to get us a good lot of charcoal for to-morrow morning, when we will
start our gas-works; and if we have no accident we shall be ready for
the performance when the evening comes around."
[Illustration: FRANK'S GAS-RETORT.]
The next day both the youths were occupied with their work, and they had
made such careful preparations that their impromptu apparatus succeeded
admirably. The charcoal proved a very fair substitute for hard coal, and
Fred remembered his boyish experiment at gas-making by filling the bowl
of a common tobacco-pipe with charcoal, closing it with clay or putty,
and then placing it in the fire. In a few moments a stream of gas
issued from the stem of the pipe, and instantly ignited when a burning
match was held in front of it.
In the evening the party repaired to the palace, on receiving word from
the king that he was ready to see them. They were accompanied by the
requisite number of porters for carrying their gas apparatus and
music-box, and also the magic lantern, which they had determined to
exhibit before making the experiments with the gas, and to prevent a
complete disappointment in case the latter should fail. A small space
was given to the boys at one end of the audience-hall, and in a very
short time they arranged their magic lantern and the screen which was to
display the pictures. The king was there, with his wives and officers,
so that the place was well filled. Frank whispered to Fred that it would
be well to put out a placard announcing "Standing-room only!" and Fred
intimated that the door-keeper should refuse admission to all who had
not secured seats in advance.
"What a lot of money we could make," said Frank, "if we had reserved the
whole house and put the tickets in the hands of the speculators!"
"Yes," responded Fred; "but remember, this isn't a republican country;
and perhaps the king would call his executioners, and discourage future
speculators by decapitating ours."
"Let's invite him to New York, to break up the ticket ring," was the
reply. "Then it might be possible once in a while to get a seat in a
theatre without paying a premium for it."
"We'll talk that over some other time," said Fred. "If the show is
ready, let's go ahead with it."
They exhibited a varied collection of pictures with the lantern, which
greatly amused the king, and set his officers and the rest of the party
in an uproar of wild delight. The music-box had been wound up; it was
started at the same moment as the first picture was shown, and there was
a general belief in the audience that music and lantern were one.
When this part of the affair was ended the gas apparatus was put in
operation. It roused the curiosity of the king, who was thoroughly
convinced that the white men knew the secret of making air burn, as he
examined the bags and pipe, and was satisfied they contained nothing but
air. The reflectors answered their purpose very well, and threw light in
any direction the king suggested. On the whole, the boys had reason to
congratulate themselves on the success of the affair, and they greatly
regretted that, owing to force of circumstances, the brilliant
engagement was to terminate with only one performance.
The close of the entertainment literally "brought down the house."
Everybody was invited outside to witness the grand finale, which
consisted in sending up a paper balloon, carrying a Chinese lantern. As
the light rose toward the sky some of the women and children actually
fell down in terror at the strangeness of the occurrence, and it
required all the persuasive powers of the king to convince them that no
harm would ensue from the magic of the white man.
[Illustration: SEEING THE SHOW.]