LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Facing Page

A NATIVE VILLAGE
THE MAIN PATH ON WATHEN STATION}Frontispiece
THE LOWER CONGO RIVER NINETY MILES FROM THE SEA[10]
A CONGO HUT[10]
THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL AT NKABA[58]
JUNGLE PATH THROUGH THE FOREST[84]
WATHEN: THE BOYS’ QUARTERS[100]
WATHEN: THE DISPENSARY[100]
SCHOOL-BOYS PLAYING HOCKEY[116]
AT THE GIANT STRIDE[116]
GYMNASTICS[116]
BUSY WASHING[128]
RESTING AFTER WASHING[128]
SCENES IN CATARACT REGION[166]
A WITCH-DOCTOR[166]
NATIVE ROPE BRIDGE[202]
NATIVE BRIDGE[202]
WHITE TRADER AND NATIVE TRADERS AND THEIR PRODUCE[236]
THE REV. JOHN H. WEEKS AND HIS BOYS[252]
CLOTH WEAVING[258]
BLACKSMITHS[258]
CATS’ CRADLES[284]
A PROTECTIVE FETISH[284]
DEACONS OF WATHEN CHURCH[304]
TEACHERS WORKING UNDER THE WATHEN CHURCH[304]
A CHRISTIAN WEDDING[312]
CHURCH COLLECTION AT WATHEN[312]
A NATIVE MARKET[332]
BAPTISMAL SERVICE, CHRISTMAS 1905[332]

PART I
Life on the Congo
AS DESCRIBED BY A BRASS ROD

THE BRASS ROD
[The currency of the Country]

LIFE ON THE CONGO

Chapter I
En Route to Congo

I am packed in a box--Sent to Congoland--My journey on the ocean steamer--Curious names of the Kroo boys--Landed at Banana--Thrown on the deck of a river steamer.

I am much older than you think, for it is more than twenty-five years ago since I was born in a great factory in one of your English towns. The years that have passed since my birthday have been filled with joy and sorrow, rest and toil; but in looking back over them I think they have contained more sorrow and toil than rest and joy.

When I was born I was very tall--nearly thirty inches high; but instead of growing taller I have become shorter, being only[[2]] eleven inches long now, for my enemies have cut off one little piece after another to melt down for brass ornaments. Folk think more of finery than of honesty. I must not, however, anticipate my sorrows, for they came all too soon.