Books: Congo

AFRICAN DRUMS—Fred Puleston; illustrated by André Durenceau—Farrar & Rinehart ($4).

When Fred Puleston ran away from home at 17 and went to Africa as an agent for Hattan & Cookson he stayed there off and on for 14 years: 1882 to 1896. In this book he reminisces, makes statements that may surprise. Says he: All white men (except missionaries) of his acquaintance in the Congo had black “harems” (one to three native girls); he approves the custom. Cannibalism was common among the blacks; three of Agent Puleston’s friends were eaten. Food was often a problem. ”Sometimes when we were very hard pressed for fresh food, a cat or dog would be very welcome. A cat tastes somewhat like a rabbit, but not nearly so full flavored. A dog nicely cooked is better than cat.” Puleston saw some strange sights: a human sacrifice of over 100 victims, to provide a bath of blood for a native king; a crucifixion; a fight between two crocodiles, between a native and a boa constrictor. Twice he met Explorer Stanley, “discoverer” of Livingstone. Says Puleston: Stanley’s real name was John Rowlands.

Dr. Puleston deserves more than his meager fame as the expert who exposed Alfred Aloysius (“Trader”) Horn. Indignation at the gross ignorance of Congo Africa which he detected in the “Horn-books” caused Dr. Puleston (a prosperous Miami, Florida physician of 20 years residence) to exclaim to friends, “I can’t believe this man was ever in the Congo!”

Impartial critics have pronounced the Puleston expose of “Horn” able, fully documented, damning. An elderly iconoclast with a penetrating, devil-take-the-prudes outlook, Dr. Puleston does not hesitate to say privately that the horror in which most whites hold “going native” has no scientific basis. As a physician, as one who has “gone,” as a practical businessman who lived for many years in a community where every white man had a pitch black Congo woman, Dr. Puleston has stated that such a relation did not appear to harm either health or mentality. Whether it harmed morals he considers a mere emotional question of opinion.