Natives and Congo Troops 



with my serviette, or rather apology for one. I 

 might say it almost added zest to the repast. 



By August the rains began to set in in 

 very determined fashion, and I was constantly 

 drenched through on water-picquet duty. I took 

 great delight in watching these storms approach- 

 ing across the numerous hills behind our outpost 

 ridge ; they were very local, and it was fascinating 

 to note the manner in which each hill was engulfed 

 in its turn. 



The natives evidently much preferred our society 

 to that of the Congoese, as they moved their villages 

 in toto and set them down under our ridge to enjoy 

 our protection. Let us hope that we will not be 

 ordered to desert them, as before. The Congo 

 atrocities are sufficiently fresh in our minds to 

 prevent any surprise at the choice of these natives. 

 Besides, we paid systematically in cloth and beads 

 for all we received, whereas it was common practice 

 among the Congo people to levy from the natives 

 all their requirements without payment ; their one 

 idea being to make what they can out of the Congo, 

 whereas our administration tends entirely to develop 

 our colonies so that they may eventually support 

 themselves. This probably accounts for most of 

 the unfortunate events that have come to light, for 

 the natives naturally resist, and then the Congoese 

 "askari" (soldier), who apparently is sent out 

 armed without any white supervision, fires indis- 

 criminately and behaves as the savage he is. 



As an instance of this, two natives came in to 

 179 



