Scotland/Scots > Last years of Livingstone

98
THE LAST YEARS OF LIVINGSTONE.
inland region, is peopled by men very like those of Insama
and Cazembe.
An Arab, Said Bin Habib, went to trade in Rua two
years ago, and, as the Arabs usually do where the natives
have no guns, Said Bin Habib’s elder brother carried mat¬
ters with a high hand. The Rua men observed that the
elder brother slept in a white tent, and, pitching their
spears into it by night, killed him. As Moslems never
forgive blood, the younger brother forthwith ran amuck
at all indiscriminately, in a large district.
Let it not be supposed that any of these people are like
the American Indians—insatiable, bloodthirsty savages,
who will not be reclaimed or enter into terms of lasting
friendship with fair-dealing strangers.
Had the actual murderers been demanded, and a little
time been granted, I feel morally certain, from many other
instances among tribes who, like the Ba Rue, have not
been spoiled by Arab traders, they would have all been
given up. The chiefs of the country would, first of all,
have specified the crime of which the elder brother was
guilty, and who had been led to avenge it. It is very likely
that they would stipulate that no other should be punished
but the actual perpetrator. Domestic slaves, acting under
his orders, would be considered free from blame. I know
of nothing that distinguishes the uncontaminated Africans
from other degraded peoples more than their entire rea¬
sonableness and good sense. It is different after they have
had wives, children, and relatives kidnapped; but that is
more than human nature, civilized or savage, can bear.