Produced by Al Haines
Cover art]
[Frontispiece: Samba and the crocodile]
SAMBA
A Story of the Rubber Slaves
of the Congo
By
HERBERT STRANG
_Author of "One of Clive's Heroes," "Kobo," "Brown of Moukden," "TomBurnaby," etc., etc_
ILLUSTRATED BY WILLIAM RAINEY, R.I.
"Botofe bo le iwa!--Rubber is Death!"--_Congo Proverb_.
_SECOND EDITION_
LONDON
HENRY FROWDE ------ HODDER & STOUGHTON
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS ------ WARWICK SQUARE, E.C.
1908
Copyright, 1906, by the BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY,
in the United States of America.
_Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London_
PREFACE
Nearly a generation has passed since King Leopold was entrusted by thegreat Powers with the sovereignty of the Congo Free State. Theconscience of Christendom had been shocked by the stories, brought backby Stanley and other travellers, of Arab slave raids on the UpperCongo; King Leopold, coming forward with the strongest assurances ofphilanthropic motive, was welcomed as the champion of the negro, whoshould bring peace and the highest blessings of civilization to thevast territory thus placed under his sway. For many succeeding yearsit was supposed that this work of deliverance, of regeneration, wasbeing prosecuted with all diligence; the power of the slave traders wasbroken, towns were built, roads made, railways opened--none of theoutward signs of material progress were wanting.
But of late the civilized world has been horrified to find that thisimposing structure has been cemented with the life blood of the Congoraces; that the material improvements to which the administrators ofCongoland can point, have been purchased by an appalling amount ofsuffering inflicted upon the hapless negroes. The collection ofrubber, on which the whole fabric of Congo finance rests, involves adisregard of liberty, an indifference to suffering, a destruction ofhuman life, almost inconceivable. Those who best know the countryestimate that the population is annually reduced, under King Leopold'srule, by at least a hundred thousand. No great war, no famine, nopestilence in the world's history has been so merciless a scourge ascivilization in Congoland.
Yet owing to mutual jealousies, the Powers are slow to take action, andwhile they hesitate to intervene, the population of this great region,nearly as large as Europe, is fast disappearing.
It has been my aim in this book to show, within necessary limitations,what the effect of the white man's rule has been.
If any reader should be tempted to imagine that the picture here drawnis overcoloured, I would commend him to the publications issued by Mr.E. D. Morel and his co-workers of the Congo Reform Association, withevery confidence that the cause of the Congo native will thereby gain anew adherent.
I must express my very great thanks to the Rev. J. H. Harris and Mrs.Harris, who have spent several years on the Upper Congo, for theirkindness in reading the manuscript and revising the proofs of thisbook, and for many most helpful suggestions and criticisms.
HERBERT STRANG.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
The Coming of the White Man
CHAPTER II
"Rubber is Death"
CHAPTER III
Monsieur Elbel
CHAPTER IV
Night Alarms
CHAPTER V
The Order of Merit
CHAPTER VI
Samba is Missing
CHAPTER VII
Blood Brothers
CHAPTER VIII
Jack in Command
CHAPTER IX
Samba Meets the Little Men
CHAPTER X
A Trip with a Crocodile
CHAPTER XI
Bula Matadi Comes to Ilola
CHAPTER XII
Samba comes Back
CHAPTER XIII
"Honour thy Father and thy Mother"
CHAPTER XIV
Lokolobolo's First Fight
CHAPTER XV
A Revolt at Ilola
CHAPTER XVI
The House by the Water
CHAPTER XVII
A Buffalo Hunt
CHAPTER XVIII
Elbel's Barrels
CHAPTER XIX
Breaking the Blockade
CHAPTER XX
David and Goliath
CHAPTER XXI
A Dash and all Together
CHAPTER XXII
A Message and a Meeting
CHAPTER XXIII
Elbel Squares Accounts
CHAPTER XXIV
A Solemn Charge
CHAPTER XXV
A Break for Liberty
CHAPTER XXVI
Turning the Tables
CHAPTER XXVII
The Return of Lokolobolo
CHAPTER XXVIII
The Chicotte
Chapter XXIX
Reaping the Whirlwind
Chapter XXX
Sinews of War
Chapter XXXI
Summons and Surrender
Chapter XXXII
The Dawn of Freedom
Chapter XXXIII
Conclusion