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THE NEGRO
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the African slave trade, in which he gives details of cannibalism and other acts of barbarism. What gives his report a special interest in this vicinity is that the author is a life-long resident of this city. He is the only representative of this governm.ent in that part of the " dark continent." He was sent there with a view to advancing the commercial interests of the United States and incidentally to investigate the slave trade. In order to gain a clear insight into the whole mat- ter, Mr. Mohun attached himself to the expedition which was sent out by the Congo government last spring, under command of M. Chaltin. This expedi- tion, both in point of strength and from the results which it accomplished, was one of the most important ever sent against the Arabs and practically gave the slave trade in the Congo country its death blow. It penetrated the great Lomami river region, the strong- hold of the slave traders, and after considerable heavy fighting, and in the face of great mortality from small- pox and fever, succeeded in breaking up several of the most noted bands, whose operations had terror- ized the entire locality. The expedition started from Basoko, on the Congo river, in the Bruxelles, in a government steamer, and eventually reached Stanley Falls. The United States officer did not join it until after M. Chaltin, who had gone on ahead, had made one short excursion into the backlying country. He caught the steamer on its next trip down to Basoko, and later joined Commandant Chaltin. Completely Destroyed He found that the officer had been most successful, defeating the Arabs in an open fight, and completely destro3ang the village of Tchari, which consisted of 1,200 houses. From that point the expedition sailed for Bena Kamba, where it was reorganized, and set out for Riba Riba, 555 strong.