Tramps round the Mountains of the Moon and through the back gate of the Congo State by TBroadwood JohnsonWith an introdby Buxton . d-seekers—Sad mortality—Stanley, the Christian African smith—A cannibal contrast—Poisoned arrows—Colonel Harrisons Pygmies—Searchingfor elephant-meat—Humane beasts. THE Sunday at Irumu a strange of the great necessaries of life is firewoodfor the cooking of food, and the soldiers, either beingtoo lazy, or regarding it beneath their dignity to goand seek it, have made- an arrangement with thewomen of the villages around to bring in a sto
Tramps round the Mountains of the Moon and through the back gate of the Congo State by TBroadwood JohnsonWith an introdby Buxton . d-seekers—Sad mortality—Stanley, the Christian African smith—A cannibal contrast—Poisoned arrows—Colonel Harrisons Pygmies—Searchingfor elephant-meat—Humane beasts. THE Sunday at Irumu a strange of the great necessaries of life is firewoodfor the cooking of food, and the soldiers, either beingtoo lazy, or regarding it beneath their dignity to goand seek it, have made- an arrangement with thewomen of the villages around to bring in a stock forsale every Sunday morning. As we strolled out towatch the proceedings, we found a group of soldiersand their wives awaiting the arrival of the there was a stir amongst them as a string ofwomen, wearing simply improvised girdles of leaves tomeet the requirements of official civilisation, were seenadvancing up the road bearing their burdens of fire-wood on their heads. In the open space in front ofthe fort the loads were thrown down, and then began an almost frantic scene of bargaining, such as may be 262. s: ^ c: i; .13 O O GOLD-SEEKERS AND CANNIBALS 263 seen on a civilised English racecourse as the horsescome down the straight. Food was offered in ex-change for the wood, and in a very few minutes everyparticle had been snatched up and the market wasover. A visit to the Greek trader Karigeorges^ store alsofurnished a strange experience. Needing one or twosmall things for replenishing my stores, I droppedin there to make my purchases. Prices were whatone might truly call a little stiff. A three-pound barof mottled soap cost me 4s. 8d., and one was notencouraged to do more than supply ones bare I was engaged in making the purchases andchatting, several natives came in, for it was pay-day,and business was at its briskest. One man wantedsome candles, and, picking up a packet, threw downhis pay for the month in the shape of four yards ofda
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1908
