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PUBLISHED 1 -r rr , T T
TWICE A MOUTH, f V ULi. 1.
ATLANTA, GA., FEBRUARY 1, 188
THE KINGDOM OF THE BAMBABAH.
Exploration!) in Central Africa have been
a subject of unfailing interest, not only to
scientists ami geographers but to the gener
al public, for some years past; and no small
share of the attention drawn to these enter
prises has been given to the expedition led
by Captain Gallieni to the upper portions
of the valleys of the Senegal and the Niger.
The party under Capt. Gallieni’s command
were attacked by the Bambaras at Dio, and
upon their subsequent return to Saint Lou
is of Senegal, the details of their arduous
undertaking became known to the public.
The object of this expedition was in gen
eral to explore the valley of the Niger, and
in particular to make surveys and prepara
tions for military and trading establish
ments along the commercial route projected
by the French government in that section
of Soudan. The persons to whom this mis
sion was intrusted were, in addition to Capt.
Gallieni of the marine infantry, already
named, Lieutenant Pietri of the marine
rounded by more than 1,600 lijinhuras, in
Ba-Oule pass, and made heroic efforts to
break through the circle which imprisoned
it and re-unite with the main body. Capt.
Gallfcni, having arrived, after a desperute
struggle in which he lost nearly all of his
escort and the greater part of his effects,
found Dr. Tautain hemmed in by a force of
the enemy numbering fifty times ids own.
The assailants having at length beaten off,
the march was resumed toward the Niger,
whither all the wounded were carried, and
Bammako was finally reached. Here the
party found Lieutcnnnt Pietri, who had
preceded them, and Lieut. Valliere, who
had arrived, almost alone from the Southern
field of exploration.
After these disasters, the party found it
self without either ammunition to fight
with or presents to offer, so that to pro
ceed either by force or diplomacy seemed
no longer possible. A consultation was
held, and although to go forward was appa
rently to invite certain death, there was no
suggestion of retreat, and the march was at
and a treaty was finally consummated by
which the expedition was enabled to set
out on its return march.
On the 12th of May, 1881, the exploring
purty disembarked at Saint Louis of Sene
gal, where it met with an enthusiastic re
ception. A short time afterwards, at Bor
deaux in France, its arrival was greeted
with manifestations of welcome, in which
the press throughout Europe cordially
joined. At Toulouse, at Rochefort, and at
the headquarters of the Paris Geographical
Society, similar honors were bestowed on
Capt. Gallieni and his three companions,
and the Society extended to the chief of the
expedition a request tojdeliver a lecture at
tlieSorbonne upon the history and results of
his undertaking.
Our illustration gives an example of one
of the primitive yet not altogether barba
rous industries of the Upper Niger, a region
peopled by the Bambnra race. The weavers
compose a ssparate tribe among them, their
occupation being to manufacture the strips
of cotton cloth, about sixteen inches in
If I were in danger of becoming skeptical,
says T. Starr King, I believe that a vivid
apprehension of the revelations concerning
our globe would appall me into faith. To
think of this ball whirling and spinning
about the sun, and be an atheist! To feel
that we are at the mercy of the forces that
lash us like a top around the ecliptic and of
the raving flames that heave and beat for
vent; not more than an eighth of its sur
face inhabitable by man; seas roaring around
him; tropic heats smiting his brain; polar
frosts threateninghisblood; hurricanes hov
ering in the sky; earthquakes slumbering
under our feet; the conditions of life de-
pend on the most delicate powers, over
which the wisest man is helpless—to think
of these, and not to have confidence in a
power superior to these pitiless forces, not
to have a faith that the land is sheltered by
a ceaseless lave from the hunger of the ele
ments!
Go, learn that you_are houseless, without
A BAMBARA WEAVER, VALLEY OF THE UPPER NIGER.
artillery, Lieutenant Valliere of the marine
infantry, and Drs. Tautain and Bayol, naval
physicians. The intention was that Dr. Bayol
should remain at B nmnmko on the Niger, as
resident representative of French interests on
that great river. The escort comprised
about 30 sharp-shooters arad native Sene
gal spies, the baggage, and the presents in
tended for the chiefs with whom the party
would be compelled to negotiate, being car
ried by 200 asses and 20 mules.
Since the early part of March. 1880, Capt.
Gallieni lias been exploring this unknown
country. He divided his officers so as to
comprise in the execution of his plan nt
once the Northern, Southern and Central
sections. On the 20th of April he was at
Kita, about 200 kilometers from the Niger.
The further the expedition advanced the
more the suspicions of the natives increased.
At Dio, active hostilities broke out.
A portion of the exploring party, sepa-
• ated from the rest, was surprised and sur-
once resumed. The men nourished them
selves on such food as could bo obtained,
and the sick and wounded crawled painfully
along. In this manner the expedition at
length arrived within a few leagues of Se-
gou-Sikoro, the headquarters of the Sultan
Ahmadou, with whom it was necessary to
negotiate. Huving halted here, with their
clothes blood-stained and tattered, their
baggage gone and destitute both of arms
and of the means for propitiating an un
friendly court with gifts, the explorers
foud themselves regarded by the Sultan’s
people with a distrust amounting to hostili
ty. As a result, Capt. Gallieni and his men
were obliged to remain at Nango, a distance
of several kilometers from Segou, through
ten dreary months, comprising the rainy
season, also the season of fevers, without
medicines or resources of any kind, and un
able to obtain direct communication with
the Sultan. Patience and resolute spirit,
however, at length overcome all obstacles,
width which, when sewed together consti
tutes the dress-goods of that unsophisticated
community. The cotton, which is a pro
duct of the Bambara soil, is spun by the
women, and in weaving the fabric the
coarse combs shown in our engraving are
the principal mechanism. Considering the
rude social condition of the tribe, the pro
cess and implements used display a sur
prising degree of ingenuity, and it must be
added that the head of the family, while
engaged in the businessof the establishment,
is very actively employed, hands and feet
alike being kept in diligent operation.
The garment of the male Bambara con
sists of a species of a shirt, provided with a
hole through which to pass the head. Short,
trousers of Arabian shape complete the’’
costume. The dress of tha women generally
consists of a plain cloth, bound around'tbe
loins. The simplicity of the Bambara
fashion-plates must, we judge, be painfully
monotonous to a civilized taste.
the sense of God os overarching you by his
power, twisting the furious forces of im
mensity into a protecting tent for your
spirit home.
Edward Eggleston, in Scribner’s Monthly,
makes the following criticism on Sunday
School work: Too much attention to dog
matic questions and too little to questions
of conduct; too much bondage to Biblo
teachings and too little devotions to the
production of Christian character; too much
superficial revivalistic work and too little
broad philanthropic endeavor; too much
preparatory lesson hearing and too little of
the affectionate, long life attachment of
‘god-child; too much'system and too little
common sense; too much memory and too
little sympathy."
Os* of the most useful and valuable
presents to a young man, is a chest of good
•ools.