A voice from the Congo : comprising stories, anecdotes, and descriptive notes

Preface

It was no high motive that took me to Africa. I went there simply and solely to gratify my love of adventure. At the age of fifteen I commenced my travels, and during the course of my wanderings in New Zealand, Australia, and in unknown regions of northern Borneo, I experienced many ups and downs. These vicissitudes only whetted my appetite, and led me to Central Africa, where I passed the five most impressionable years of my life.

I took to Africans from the first. I was young, full of life and high spirits, and regarded every one I met as a friend. My confidence was sometimes checked, but never shaken. With youthful exuberance of spirits I fraternised with every one I met, and I soon found there was a fund of good-humour in the African composition. There was a good side to even the most villainous-looking savage, and I generally found it.

In this free and easy way I entered into the lives of the natives. My sympathy, which was with them at the commencement, ripened with time. They apviii PREFACE

pealed strongly to me by reason of their simplicity and directness, their lack of scheming or plotting, and by the spontaneity of everything they did. Hence my efforts to learn their language, in order that I might know them better.

Commencing in this casual manner I found myself gradually drawn into serious reflections, and I became imbued with a profound sympathy for African human nature.

H. W.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author desires to express his acknowledgments to Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons of New York, and Messrs. Cassell and Company of London, for their permission to reprint portions of some of his articles already published by them.

Contents

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Yoka the Sorcerer 30

Adventures of Captain Deane 75 zi xii CONTENTS