Europeans “amour-propre”—self-love ? “ susceptibilities”—vanity ?
in Africa. i v which were shot forth like so many delicate antennae,
and when touched by the imperative necessity of some
one being appointed to undertake the work caused them
to shrink back offended and alarmed if a delicate hint
was given that it was their “ turn.” Little hy little
we discovered that these magnificent men not: only
lacked the necessary attainments, but were also most
poor in the spirit of endeavour.
Of those heroes of labour who distinguished themselves
by intense striving in the work-markets of
Europe, I encountered but a few. Of those noble
aspirants for bread or for honour of whom we read so
much about in the annals of industry, I regret to say it
was not my good fortune to meet many examples. For
the first three years I may say their number was only
about four per'cent. And the rest—well, they did not
allow me to forget their existence.
Gan any man have read this book so far as these
pages, and taken into due consideration the character
and nature of our work, without readily perceiving
and admitting how very necessary a strong and willing
soul was to me in the matter of assistance, how such
would have been honoured and blessed by me, how"
devoutly I should have admired him for his devotedness,
and courted his company for the vital value
of his presence ?
Many Europeans no doubt succumbed from physical
weakness ; others had simply mistaken their vocation;
The . influence of the wine or beer, which at the first
offset from Europe had acted on their impulses like Europeans
the effect of quinine on weakened nerves, soon evaporated
in a wineless land, and with their general ignorance
of adaptation to foreign circumstances, and a
steady need of the exhilarating influence of customary
stimulants, an unconquerable depression usurped the
high-blown courage it inspired, which some called
nostalgia, and some hypochondria. Many had also, as
they themselves confessed, come out merely to see the
riv e r; their imaginations had run riot qmid herds of
elephants, lions, buffaloes, and hippopotami, while the
tall lithe-necked giraffe and the graceful zebra occupied
the foreground of those most unreal pictures. Their
senses bad also been fired by the looks of love and admiration
cast on them hy their sweethearts, as thev
declared their intention to “ go out to the Congo,” while
many a pleasing hour must have been spent as together
they examined the strange equipments, the elephant-
rifles, the penetrative “ Express,” and described in
glowing terms their life in the far-off palmy lands
watered by the winding Ikelemba or the mighty Congo,
Thus they had deluded themselves as well as the
Comite', whose Members looked up with eyes of commendation,
as the inspired heroes delivered with bated
breath their unalterable resolution “ to do or die.”
But death was slow to attack the valorous braves
while the do-able lay largely extended before them.
The latter was always present with its exasperating
plainness, its undeniable imperativeness which affronted
their “ susceptibilities,” and ignored their titles and
VOL. II. K