Bula Matadi comes to Ilola
"Well, Barney," said Jack, when Mr. Martindale's canoe had disappeared,
"I don't know how a first mate would feel if he lost his captain in
mid-ocean, but I should fancy he'd feel pretty much as I do now."
"And what sort of feeling is now consuming ye, sorr?"
"Mixed, Barney, very mixed! I like the idea of being left in charge,
trusted, you know; there's something jolly pleasant about that. But
that's the point, you see; I am left in charge."
"Sure I see your maning widout your telling me, sorr. 'Tis just the
very same feeling I used to have whin a bhoy, and me mither put the
baby in me arms and tould me to sit wid her on the doorstep. 'Twas a
sweet pretty colleen, an' I thought a powerful deal uv having such a
heap uv loveliness in me arms; but thin, just as you say, sorr, she was
in me arms, an' they being thin an' she being fat--begorra! I was soon
mighty tired uv it, an' I wished she was ugly so that I might hate her
widout sin."
"I hope I shan't feel quite so bad as that, Barney," said Jack with a
laugh. "But I own I'm a little anxious with so many people in my
charge."
"And not wan uv them to be trusted, saving Pat and meself."
"And this mining claim of my uncle's to keep an eye on and defend
without using force."
"And wild beasts prowling around----"
"And that villainous uncle of Samba's somewhere in the neighbourhood, I
suppose, waiting a chance to molest us."
"And bedad! if he does, he'll find an Irishman, an Englishman, and a
terrier, Irish by breed and Irish by nature, and them three are a match
for any fifty Blokos, widout a doubt."
"You're an optimist, Barney. But you're right. It's silly to meet
troubles half-way. We had better set about doing something. I used to
think our house-master kept our noses rather too close to the
grindstone, but I begin to see he was right when he said work was the
best cure for the dumps."
"And for what the advertisements call a tindency to corpilence. But
what will you be after doing at all, sorr?"
"Well, don't you think that, now our numbers are reduced, it would be
as well to move our camp nearer to Imbono's village? We shall be here
for a couple of months or so, and if Boloko is still on our tracks we
should be less open to surprise near Ilola. Besides, it will give the
men something to do. They'd better build grass huts for the whole
party, and I don't see why we shouldn't try our hands at architectural
improvements."
"Indeed, 'tis a good notion, sorr. But are ye sure Imbono would be
willing to have us for close neighbours?"
"We can try. He's my blood brother, you know. And I dare say we can
put him up to a thing or two."
The chief made no objection to the suggested change of site; indeed, he
offered the assistance of his men in the construction of the new huts.
This, however, Jack declined in the politest terms, thinking it better
to provide plenty of work for his own men until he had had time to take
his bearings. The new huts were built within a short distance of
Ilola, near a stream. They were the ordinary grass huts of the
natives, but Jack, seeing a number of wooden slabs taken from the
bottoms of old canoes, had purchased them from Imbono, and when shaped
a little they made a very fair substitute for flooring boards. The new
settlement was surrounded with a stockade in the native manner, space
enough being left within to accommodate Mr. Martindale and his party
when they should return.
This work occupied a fortnight. Everything had gone smoothly, save for
trifling squabbles among the natives. These Jack managed to settle
with little difficulty, in great part through the excellent qualities
of Lepoko, who turned out to be a much better man all round than his
brother Nando. When the new village was completed, Jack set the men to
make Indian clubs from the trees near at hand, and spent part of the
cool hours in instructing his followers in their use. They took
readily to the new pastime, and very quickly became proficient in
executing a great variety of intricate figures. Jack was elated at the
success of his experiment: it not only provided an admirable drill for
the men, but accustomed them to take commands from him and thus
consolidated his authority.
Imbono's men caught the infection: Indian clubs were soon the order of
the day in Ilola; and it gave Jack and Barney no little amusement to
see men, women, and children at all times of the day whirling clubs
around their heads. Imbono saw that his men's performances were
greatly lacking in rhythm and grace, and he begged his blood brother
(whom he had named Lokolobolo, "strong leg") to allow some of his men
to join in the daily practising. Jack was nothing loth; the more
influence he could obtain in this way the better his chances of success
in the task his uncle had set him.
He was casting about for some new employment to occupy and interest his
men, when a couple of canoes came up the river bearing a letter from
Mr. Martindale, and a small consignment of Mauser rifles and
ammunition. The letter was dated from Baraka.
DEAR JACK,--
I've got here safely, no interference, no upsets. I've managed to get
hold of some rifles--I won't tell you how--and send them to you in
charge of some canoe "boys." Hope they'll reach you safely. I've paid
the boys well, and promised them as much more if they return and meet
me with an acknowledgment from you. I'm off to Boma; will write you
again from there if I can find a means of sending the letter. Let me
know by the bearer how you are getting on.
On the way down I made more particular inquiries than were possible in
coming up as to the methods of the Congo Government. At Stanleyville I
met a Frenchman who told me a good deal, and here got rather chummy
with an English missionary on his way home to tell the British public
some of the effects of King Leopold's rule. One need only look at the
man to see that he is the right sort, with the stuff in him for
martyrdom if the call came. The things he told me made my skin creep.
Leopold seems to be doing his best to depopulate the country. He'll
soon make Vanderbilt sing small as a multi-millionaire; but when his
pile's made this State of his will be a wilderness.
I find that the natives are required to bring in four kilos of rubber
every fortnight. They're supposed to be paid for it, and they do get
brass rods or something of the sort; but the pay works out at the rate
of three cents a pound--when rubber to my knowledge fetches about
eighty cents a pound in the European market! I hear of cases where
they don't even get that; a spoonful of salt is supposed to be
sufficient. If the rubber don't measure up to the standard, the least
punishment the poor wretches get is twenty-five lashes with a whip of
hippo hide--the _chicotte_, an outrageous thing that would cut through
a pine log. But they don't stop at twenty-five; a hundred ain't
uncommon; no wonder some of the poor creatures peg out after it.
But that's not the worst. These precious "forest guards," as they call
them, seem to be little less than fiends. I saw with my own eyes, at
one of the villages on the way down, a basket filled with hands, cut
from the people these savages have killed for not bringing in enough
rubber. The Frenchman told me they have to produce these hands before
the Commissary to prove they haven't wasted their cartridges.
According to State law they oughtn't to be armed with rifles, but
they've got a Belgian thing called the Albini, and that's how they use
it. I wouldn't believe that this hand-chopping was done with the
knowledge of the officials, though even then it don't relieve them of
responsibility; but I heard of a State officer at one of the outposts
who actually paid in brass rods for the hands brought him.
Law doesn't count here, and justice is only a name. What do you think
of this? A Belgian official quartered himself with twenty native
soldiers on a small village, and because they couldn't fix up at once
the food required for the visitors, he carried the chief and some of
his men to his camp up river, and kept 'em there tied up for a month
till a fine of 5,000 brass rods had been paid--ruination for such a
small place. The missionary told me that "fights" are constantly
taking place, and "fight" simply means massacre. Districts that once
held a thousand people are now reduced to a hundred; what natives are
not killed get so worn out and dispirited that they are bowled over by
sleeping sickness. If this sort of thing goes on much longer, the
whole population will be wiped out.
You'll be surprised to get such a long letter; but fact is, I can't
think of anything else just now. It makes me fairly sick to think that
America had a hand in putting this huge territory under the control of
a man whose philanthropic high-falutin comes to this. The whole system
is organized murder and pillage under the form of law, and for this
King Leopold, who pockets a thumping profit, is responsible before God
and man. Now I've told you this you'll know how to deal with that
fellow Elbel if he tries any tricks. But remember, no fighting except
in self-defence. Patience, my boy--_toujours la patience_, as the
Frenchman said to me when I was boiling with rage and wanted to go
right away and speak my mind to the Governor.
Your affectionate uncle,
JOHN MARTINDALE.
P.S.--I saw and heard nothing of Samba.
There was plenty of food for thought here, especially when Jack learnt
from the head paddler who had brought the letter that the officials of
the Trust in which Ilola was situated were coming up the river to
establish new depots for the rubber. He wrote a brief account of what
he had been doing, and despatched it by the same men. Then, to be
prepared for eventualities, he picked out the most intelligent of his
followers and began to teach them the use of the rifle. Only a few of
them showed any promise as marksmen. But Jack was very patient with
them; and having a good stock of ammunition and the promise of more, he
did not spare practice, and in a short time had about fifteen fairly
trustworthy shots. One man, named Makoko, took to the rifle from the
first and ran Jack close as a marksman. Jack was very proud of his
pupil. He himself had been the crack shot of his school company; and
though there was all the difference in the world between shooting at
the butts from a position of rest and shooting at alligators or hippos
from a canoe, he had tested his marksmanship with success as he came up
the Congo.
Now that some of his men had rifles it occurred to Jack to teach them
what he remembered of his company drill. It was a welcome change after
their long practice with the Indian clubs, and they entered into it
with the pleasure and zest of children. Lepoko was gratified with the
rank of sergeant, and Makoko made corporal in recognition of his
diligence and skill in musketry. When the company was formed Barney
reminded Jack that he had been a corporal in the Irish Fusiliers. "And
sure I'd be in the army now, sorr, only they didn't invent the Irish
Guards till I was a time-expired man. But having been a corporal, it's
meself that is cut out to be your liftinant here, sorr. We've got Pat
for the pet uv the reg'mint," he added, "and the only thing that's
wanting is the uniform."
"Well, Barney, perhaps for the sake of uniformity we'd better strip and
take to the loincloth."
"Ah! you must always be having your bit uv fun, sorr. We'd be far too
conspicuous, for my skin at any rate would turn red wid modesty, and
the generals say that red coats make the best targets for the inemy."
The drilling of Jack's company was followed with great interest and
admiration by Imbono and his men. They never failed to attend the
daily parade, and soon desired to join it. Jack delighted the chief by
putting the villagers through the same exercises as his own men,
excepting, of course, the musketry practice, for which they had no
rifles. Before long Jack found himself captain of a company a hundred
and fifty strong, all but his fifteen riflemen being spearmen.
Nearly two months had now passed. Jack had not heard again from his
uncle, whose return he daily expected. He was anxious to see him
again, for lately news had been brought in by excited natives that the
servants of the Great White Chief were drawing nearer, their progress
being attended by wanton cruelties which boded ill for the men of
Ilola. So distressed was Imbono at the tales he heard from these
messengers that he thought of dismantling his village and migrating
into the depths of the forest. There for a time he and his people
might hide from the destroyer. But to a people accustomed to the open
the prospect of making a new home in the forest was gloomy indeed.
Most of them would probably die of disease before they became
acclimatised, and there was great risk of starving while clearings were
being made and brought under cultivation. Imbono resolved to wait a
little longer, hoping that Bula Matadi might turn back, sated with the
spoils from lower reaches of the Lemba.
One day, the visitors so long expected and so little desired arrived at
the village. Jack's settlement being on the further side of Ilola from
the river, he did not know of their approach until informed of it by a
messenger from Imbono. Thirty forest guards of the Great White Chief
had come, and with them twenty nondescripts, hangers-on of the licensed
pillagers. Their leader was not a white man, as Imbono had expected,
but a black man like themselves. This surprised Jack. It was of
rather ill omen that the first representatives of King Leopold in
Imbono's village should be negroes free from white men's control. But
the strangers reported that a white man--his name, they said, was
Elobela--was coming up the river behind them. Meanwhile they, in his
name, called upon the chief to supply rubber. Imbono desired that his
brother Lokolobolo would come into the village and give him advice.
"Faith, I'd do nothing of the sort, sorr," said Barney. "What would ye
have any truck wid Elbel's scoundhrels for?"
"But it would be a poor return for Imbono's kindness to refuse. I
shall certainly go; the question is, shall I go armed?"
"The blessed angels help ye if ye don't, sorr. Take your revolver;
I'll come wid ye, and so will Pat; 'tis right to make a good show for
the honour of the reg'mint."
Accordingly captain, lieutenant, and regimental pet, with Lepoko as
interpreter, left the stockaded camp and crossed to Ilola. They found
the thirty forest guards already swaggering about the village as if it
belonged to them. They were big muscular Ngombe, armed with rifle,
cutlass, and whip. Their leader was engaged in conversation with the
chief. No sooner did Pat perceive him than he darted forward with a
growl, and coming to the negro, began to bark furiously at his heels.
The man turned round quickly and aimed a blow with his whip at the dog,
which made Pat bark and jump more vigorously than ever. At the same
moment the man caught sight of Jack, and his face expressed surprise,
guilt, and bravado in turn.
"Begorra!" said Barney under his breath, "'tis Bloko himself!"
The chief's countenance cleared; he was unmistakably pleased at Jack's
ready response to his request. Then he anxiously asked what he should
do.
"I don't think you can do anything but obey," replied Jack.
"Undoubtedly the Great White Chief is lord of the land. By the laws he
has made you are bound to supply these people with rubber. It is your
tax. If you resist it will mean ruin to yourself and your villages.
How is the rubber to be paid for?"
"In brass rods."
"Well, let your men do their best. We will see if you get your due
pay. My uncle will soon be back; he is a determined man, and if you
are not properly treated he will take care that somebody hears of it."
Boloko scowled, then laughed, when Lepoko translated this answer to the
chief. He swaggered away to his men, and the whole crowd were soon
laughing heartily, every now and then making derisive gestures at the
white men. With some difficulty Barney had got hold of Pat, whose
barking had subsided into a rumbling growl. But for his restraining
hand Barney knew well that the dog would have thrown prudence to the
winds and set upon the strange negroes.
From that day Imbono's villagers began the collection of rubber.
Boloko and his men seized as many huts as they required, and demanded
regular and copious supplies of food for themselves and their
hangers-on. Before twenty-four hours had passed Boloko, with half a
dozen of his guards, strolled over to Jack's village, and looked in at
the gateway of the stockade. Jack had already decided to adopt
military precautions. Two of his best men were doing sentry-go at the
gate. When Boloko saw them and their rifles he thought better of
entering as he had purposed. He stood for some time taking stock of
the tidy compound and the neat new huts around, and discussing with his
men this unexpected discovery. Then with a malignant scowl he returned
to Ilola.
For some days Jack saw no more of Boloko. He remained within his own
stockade, thinking it would do the chief no good if he too openly
showed friendship. Every day he put the men through their usual drill,
never giving the least sign that he was aware of being closely observed
by the forest guards. The drilling of Imbono's men had ceased; the
adult villagers were now engaged in the collection of rubber.
From what Jack heard from his men, it soon became clear to him that
Boloko was anxious to pick a quarrel with the chief. His motive, Jack
guessed, was partly to show his authority, partly to flaunt his
contempt of the friendship between Imbono and the white men. His
design was to some extent kept in check by the knowledge that Jack had
fifteen men well armed and trained, and the presence of the two white
men, Inglesa too--he had a wholesome respect for the Inglesa--was in
itself a considerable deterrent. But he began to find fault with the
quality of the rubber brought in; declared that the villagers kept the
best fish for themselves and gave him the worst; complained that his
men were made ill by rotten manioc. Imbono took care that the details
of these grievances were carried to Jack, who, however, held aloof,
still feeling that interference on his part would do no good, while it
would certainly aggravate the situation. When the Congo Free State
entrusted the collection of its revenue to such subordinates as Boloko,
commanding ruthless savages like the forest guards, there was nothing
to be done.
One evening, after sunset, Lepoko came into Jack's hut to say that the
chief desired to see him. Jack hurried out, and found Imbono in
company with one of his villagers. He invited them into his hut,
lighted a candle, and setting food and palm wine before them, inquired
the object of their visit.
"Look, my brother!" said the chief, pointing to his companion.
The man turned, and showed three terrible gashes in his back. He
lifted his right foot and removed a bandage; Jack saw that two of the
toes were missing.
"You see, brother!" said Imbono. "Ifumi was eating caterpillars in his
hut. The guard Bomolo saw him and came to him and said, 'Your rubber
is short. You eat caterpillars instead of collecting rubber.' Ifumi
said: 'No, my rubber is not short. There is my basket; you see it is
full.' But Bomolo cut three gashes in his back, and struck off two of
his toes with his knife."
"That is the truth, Ifumi?" asked Jack.
"It is true," replied the man.
"You did not provoke Bomolo?"
"No, I said to him only what the chief has told."
"You did right to come, Imbono," said Jack quietly. "Go back now: you
had better not be seen here. I will send you a message in the morning."
The two men thanked him and went away, Ifumi limping as he walked,
supported by the chief's arm. Jack called Barney and told him what had
happened.
"It makes my blood boil, Barney. I hoped it would not come to this.
Poor wretches--to be at the mercy of such savages! I can't stand by
and see such things done. I'm sure my uncle would not wish me to. Yet
what can I do? We could fight Boloko and his men, and beat them I
hope; but goodness knows what that would lead to. Whatever little
right they have to maim these poor people, we have none whatever to
interfere, and we should have the regular forces of the State down on
us for treason or rebellion or what not. But something must be done.
I wish my uncle were here!"
"Well, sorr, I'm ready for anything. The quickest and easiest way
would be to fight, for wid all this drill wan uv our men is worth two
uv those blagyards."
"No, my uncle said we were to fight only in self-defence. I can't go
against that. Couldn't we persuade Boloko to keep his men in
order--bribe him, perhaps?"
"I'd sooner try to persuade the divil, sorr."
"Well, I shall try it. I'll invite him to a palaver. We'll give him a
feast--open our last bottle of soda water; a good dinner improves a
man's temper sometimes, you know, Barney."
"True, sorr; but it sometimes makes a man very impident. Will I send
Lepoko over wid the invitation the morn's morn, sorr?"
"Yes, directly after breakfast. Say that I shall be pleased if Boloko
will come to see me in my camp. He may bring his rifle and half a
dozen of his men."