Europeans their rights to distinction. The stern every-day reality,
the meagre diet and the forbidding aspect, humbled
their presumption. When they hear that in this land
there is neither wine, nor beer, nor comforting cognac
to relieve the gnawing distressful hankering they suffered
for their usual beverage, their hearts heat more
feebly ; and they see that those bright African images
and beautiful dreams of tropic scenery and excitement
are replaced by unknown breadths of roadless regions,
exuberant only with tall spear-grass and jungly
scrub. The hot sun dares them to the trial of- forcing
a way through such scarcely penetrable growth ; but
the distance and fatigue, seeming to be immense, overmasters
their resolution*, and, alas! there are no fair
maidens with golden hair to admire their noble efforts
at doing and dying.
Conscience, or the prickings of shame, may whisper
to a few not quite abandoned and shameless, that there
is brave work to be performed, and that they may.
experience the colonist’s pleasure of seeing the vegetables
and fruit-trees and plants grow instead of that
cane grass and jungle now covering the*broad acreage.
“ Bah ! I did not come to work ; I came .to hunt,
to play, to eat, and to receive a big salary from the
Comité,” some answer.
“ Do you feel fatigued? Try some hot tea or
coffee.”
“ W h a t!” shriek they. “ Try Congo water! No,
thank you ; my stomach was made for something better
than to be a nest, for young crocodiles.”.
Let me illustrate a few instances. One, who has Europeans
loudly professed himself to be heroic, is conducted to
the site of a station. Forty docile, disciplined black
men are delivered over to his control. Three companions
of white colour are allotted to his assistance.
A stack of bales of cloth, bags of beads, and enough
brass-wire to ballast a large boat are given to ' him as
currency to barter, and to put into circulation with the
aborigines for provisions Such as the country may furnish.
The river close by swarms' with fish which, if he
will, he may catch; thé villages around about, possess
fowls, among which, doubtless, laying hens will be
found sheep and goats are also'procurable, and a
sufficient number of she-goats will supply him and his
white companions with fresh milk ; the natives in the
neighbourhood will sell him sweet potatoes, which
when boiled;or fried, roasted or stewed, are nutritious;
fields of cassava are extensive, and its edible root may
be prepared in a variety of agreeable ways. Tomatoes,
beans and pumpkins are not difficult to obtain, which,
augmented by a store of rice, tinned vegetables and
wheaten flour, besides tea, coffee, butter, jam, and condensed
milk, tinned fish, meats and soups from Europe,'
may well permit a sumptuous diet to be enjoyed,
provided there is a little exertion and personal superintendence
directed in the preparation of the food.
To start the station fairly, we build a strong blockhouse
and a native village before our departure, to
house the whites and their goods. Milch-goats aie
collected, and laying liens are purchased. The abori-
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