The Boy Travellers in the Far East, Part Fifth: Adventures of Two Youths in a Journey through AfricaKnox, Thomas Wallace
General
The Boy Travellers in the Far East, Part Fifth: Adventures of Two Youths in a Journey through Africa
Knox, Thomas Wallace
Africa -- Description and travel -- Juvenile literature; Africa, Central -- Description and travel -- Juvenile literature
When they reached camp they found that the tents had been pitched on a
little plain backed by a range of hills, and just outside a native
village. An awning had been placed for the Doctor and Fred, where they
could recline comfortably, and have the full benefit of the evening
breeze as it swept down from the hills. The people came in with grain
and other things to sell, and there was no scarcity of provisions.
The character of the commerce of the region was shown by an incident
that occurred just after the arrival of our friends, and while they were
occupied in their tents.
A native came into camp leading a boy at the end of a rope. Whenever the
prisoner lagged he received a blow from a stick in the hands of his
cruel master; and just outside the line of tents the boy was the victim
of a sound beating, in order to make him show his best points when on
exhibition.
The negro offered the boy for sale, and asked where was the chief
trader. Ali replied that the chief of the party was a white man, and did
not buy slaves.
The negro did not believe Ali's statement, and repeated his demand to
see the chief.
"I will go and call him," said the boy; "but he is 'Ingleez,' and won't
buy slaves."
At the word "Ingleez" (English) the native comprehended the situation,
and made haste to get out of the camp with his human merchandise. All
through Africa the English detestation of the slave-trade is well known,
and whenever a trader learns of an Englishman being in his neighborhood
he knows that his traffic will receive no countenance. No distinction is
made between English and Americans, as the term "Ingleez" is applied to
all who speak the language of Great Britain. Frank and Fred tried
repeatedly to make the natives understand the difference between English
and Americans, but finally gave up the attempt and allowed themselves to
be classified as "Ingleez." The universal response to their explanations
was, that the strangers spoke the same language and came from beyond the
sea, and therefore there could be no difference between them. Frank said
there had been many differences, particularly in 1776 and 1812; but his
joke was totally lost on his dusky listeners.
The next day's march was through a rough country, the road ascending
steadily as it followed the valley of the river. The caravan passed
several villages, but made no halt at any of them, and the camp for the
night was made near a small stream which flowed into the great river,
less than a mile away. One of the natives brought a fish caught in the
stream. It bore a close resemblance to the trout, and Doctor Bronson
said it was evidently a member of that voracious but wary family. Its
native name was _moora_, and it was said to be found in several of the
smaller streams of that region, but not in the lakes or large rivers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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