78 
HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
French Authority only extends to the river 
side, although their country has long been sup- 
posed to be in French occupation. It consists of 
immense plains, also forest land wherein dwell 
many new and strange specimens which will de- 
light the naturalists of the future. 
The Pahouin country will be the country of 
surprises, no white man has ever penetrated their 
country. There will be found the Water Ele- 
phant, a Giant Manus, with innumerable rare 
Monkeys and Antelopes. It abounds in Snakes 
of immense size and ferocity. 
The Pahouins are the only hunters in this 
vast district of the Elephant, Hippopotamus, 
Gorilla and Chimpanzee. They face the Gorilla 
in its native paths, capturing its young, after des- 
troying the parents. Their captures are brought 
down river to certain villages, wherein dwell the 
coast-town native, who barter them to the white 
man on the coast. 
While on this subject, I was often asked,, 
whilst in Settee Cama, b) the natives, to what 
purpose I placed the various Gorillas and Chim- 
panzees purchased from them. They could not 
understand the white people seeing them in cap^ 
tivity. It was a great degradation for the high 
born Pahouin to attend to their captured speci- 
mens; they seldom did so. They possessed domes- 
tic slaves who attended to all menial duties. Ul- 
timately their enquiries became so pressing as 
to the future of the Apes that I informed them 
that I was rather short of sailors at home, that I 
trained the Gorilla and Chimpanzee for seafaring 
purposes, with which explanation they seemed 
perfectly satisfied. Some years after I was in- 
formed by a "West Coaster," who had returned 
home, that this particular statement of mine was 
spread far and wide in the French Congo Forest 
Seaboard. To keep any animal, bird, or reptile 
as a pet or curiosity is repugnant to the African 
Negro. 
The Portuguese were the first traders to this 
mysterious region. It abounds in wealth, ivory 
in plenty, rubber, valuable woods, and minerals 
unbounded. 
After the Portguese came the Old English 
Trading Adventurer. It would be invidious to 
mention names. The Traders of the African South 
West Coast — millionaires of to-day — kept the 
British Flag flying years before Governmental 
Occupation. And what was the result in Settee 
Cama? From Loango down to Gaboqm, the 
country was practically ruled by the Liverpool 
Merchants. Their representatives were at every 
coast town. The natives looked to them for guid- 
ance, protection and trade. This particular stretch 
of country prospered exceedingly. Ivory came 
along in abundance. Rubber was sought for by 
every native. Trade grew. I heard whilst on the 
coast that one firm gave ^lO^OOO to a rival on 
the understanding that they did not trade in Settee 
Cama for three years. And then the climax. The 
British Government in one of its silly moods bar- 
tered away this stretch of coast to the French; 
they bartered away what they had never troubled 
about, what they considered valueless, what they 
knew nothing about. That was their usual cus- 
tom in those days. (I believe they bartered away 
Heligoland some time after this — and now !) 
The transfer to the French did not suit the 
natives. The coast men sought the assistance of 
the Pahouins. The King of the Pahouins came 
down to Settee Cama with a large following to 
demand an explanation from the representative 
of the Liverpool firm which had been established 
there for a century. They wished for war. The 
representative advised peace with no recognition. 
He explained that machine guns, with a thousand 
Senegalese, would mean a lot of trouble. The 
Pahouins could never hold the coast line, there- 
fore a withdrawal to their forests, rivers and 
plains where they were safe. That is the reason 
to-day that French rule is only recognised on the 
river side, or, in other worls, just as far as the 
rifle will carry and where the Senegalese can pene- 
trate. 
In conclusion, I wish to state that Settee 
Cama had always a great attraction for me. Its 
surf ! This surf, with a reputation of centuries, 
caused a mortal dread to* those landing on the 
beach. Once there, you were safe. But going 
off might be another matter. Its loneliness ! 
Three trading houses with the French Post, each 
half a mile apart. Its river ! Leading up into 
the dark interior of that strange country, into 
vast lakes and lagoons, and into the only remain- 
ing part of the Congo where domestic slaves are 
still bought, sold and exchanged. On one of my 
excursions up country, arriving at an English 
factory, the Agent in charge, a rather free and 
easy sort of individual, arranged in pyjamas only, 
startled me by asking whether I wished to see the 
King ! Thinking it might be conducive to busi- 
ness, I replied "Yes." "Boy, go and find the 
King. Big man come, plenty dash." 
Shortly afterwards, whilst fixing up my com- 
pound, consisting of empty whisky cases, milk 
tins, with I. T. Morton's meat cases, I was made 
aware of the approach of a very elderly man, 
arrayed in a top hat, a coat of many colours, 
with an old pair of canvas shoes, followed by a 
group of some dozen natives. 
The men wore the proverbial fig leaf. Two 
women in the deputation were very "extensive 
and somewhat peculiar." (I might say I have 
never seen worse.) 
The native in the top hat. and coloured coat 
regarded me for some minutes in a very sad way. 
He was a very old man. He had a terrible griev- 
ance against the French. They had appropriated 
