Europeans
in Africa.
I should mention Lieut. Destrain and Mr. Hodister,
of the Kwilu-Niadi Talley, as further examples of manliness
and indefatigability among the Belgians; but I
have no intimate knowledge of these gentlemen. I
infer so much from the number of years they have
been engaged in the service, from the reports of officers
from that locality and from a knowledge of Destrain’s
frequent tours of inspection and survey in the valley,
and the value of the details which he has furnished
to us.
Among the later British arrivals who have been
conspicuous for their capacity and their all-round fitness
for special fields of labour—although it would be
premature as yet to detail at large their services—are
Captain Seymour Saulez, Major Francis Yetch, Major
Parmenter, Mr. E. Massey Shaw, Mr. Spenser Burns,
Mr. John Rose Troup, and Engineer Binnie.
Captain Saulez, on Lieutenant Yalcke’s appointment
to the command of Le Stanley Transport Force,
assumed the command of the Divisional District of
Stanley Pool. He has been tried only for. a few
months, but, although the district was at one time the
centre of an adverse effort, he has contrived through
his calm behaviour and consistent, watchful, prudent
conduct to preserve the peace.
Major Y etch is the chief officer of the Native Transport.
To him is intrusted the conveyance of the ten
tons of goods and provisions, sent monthly from Yivi
to Stanley Pool along the south bank. He is a great
favourite with the natives, and the most onerous,
services have been'uniformly and unexceptionally well European,
rendered. in Africa.
Every one who has come in contact with Major
Parmenter has been impressed by his extreme suavity
of manner. From some of those whose evidence may
be considered of weight, I have learned that he is
regarded as “ a complete gentleman.” Tq which I
must add the very favourable impressions derived from
■his reports, which I venture to say were the fullest
and the most detailed descriptions of events occurring
at Yivi that I ever received. While he was in charge
of our lower station, every courier bore a perfect
record of events, written in an excellent, nervous style,
through which I felt that Yivi was drawn nearer
to me, and within my control. Personally I have not
had' the pleasure of seeing him.
Mr. E. Massey Shaw, of London, deserves honourable
mention at my hands for some months of excellent
governorship of Yivi during a term which, I fear, gave
him more pain and anxiety than comfort or pleasure.
For his sturdy, calm conduct under distressing circumstances,
this hearty acknowledgment is due him.
We had been unfortunate enough to have accepted the
services, of an applicant who, through an alleged long
term of service in the United States Navy formerly,
and latterly as American consul at St. Paul de Loanda,
was supposed to be well worthy of this important
appointment. If one may judge by results, a very
serious error was committed by me when I accepted this
person and appointed him-to Yivi. After a short, but
VOL. II.
T