Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/593

THE BA-LUBA. 489 those associated with the reception of caravans, which they welcome with shouts and dancing, drum-beating and volleys of firearms. All are arrayed in their best attire, while the traders deck themselves with the choicest of their wares. Even the members of convoys from vassal tribes, although subjected at first to a considerable amount of horse-play and rough usage, are in the end indemnified by feasts and presents for their disagreeable reception. The Ba-Luba have preserved the custom of the " brotherhood of blood," which survives also amongst numerous other African populations, as well as amongst the European Slavs, but which is unknown in the Lunda country. When the young men have drunk of each other's blood their property becomes almost common, for they mutually help themselves to whatever takes their fancy, without a thought of making reparation. This right of " share and share all round " is extended even to the various members of the respective families. The sociable character and cordial spirit of brotherhood by which the Ba-Luba are animated is revealed even in the manner of parcelling out their lands. Instead of keeping their plantations apart and working alone in sullen isolation, the peasantry delight to keep together and till all the fields in common, although really disposed in distinct allotments. The Land of Friendship is divided into two principal states, which are usually designated after the names of their kings — Nukenge, the suzerain, and Jingenge (Tchikenge), the vassal. The King of the Bena-Riamba is the universal lord of the soil, but the plants growing on it belong to the toiler who has raised them by his labour. A fourth part of all game killed in his empire belongs to him by right, and he also levies an impost on all merchandise imported by caravans. Maintaining commercial relations with all the surrounding chiefs as well as with the Portuguese traders, he has also desired to contract alliances with the sovereigns of Europe. Through the agency of Pogge he has forwarded a letter to the " ruler beyond the waters, to the commander of all the peoples," begging for numerous presents, amongst others for a medicine " to prevent people from dying." Soon after their arrival in the Ba-Luba territory the first explorers perceived that a European station would be well placed in such a productive land inhabited by the intelligent Tu-Shilange people. In 1884 Wismann founded the post of Liiluabiirg, at an altitude of 1,760 feet, some 12 miles to the north of Mukenge, on the left bank of the river which gives its name to the station. Despite the difficulty of supplying it with provisions, this outpost of the Congo Free State has hitherto been maintained and even enlarged. At the end of the year 1886 it was inhabited by a missionary and another European, assisted by some fifty natives, troops, and artisans, and by about thirty women, who looked after the gardens, the poultry, and a small herd of cattle. It is still uncertain whether, in violation of a treaty just signed, fixing the limits of the Congo domain at the sixth parallel of south latitude, Luluaburg has not been founded to the south of this conventional frontier, in a zone not yet ofiicially assigned to any European power. The great dis- advantage of Luluaburg is due to its position on a part of the river which offers no continuous line of navigation between the Kassai and the Congo, for the stream is obstructed by cataracts at several points farther down as far as the confluence of 95— AF