Samba: A Story of the Rubber Slaves of the Congo Read online

  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