Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
Out to Sea
FromtherecordsoftheColonialOfficeandfromthedeadman’sdiarywelearnthatacertainyoungEnglishnobleman,whomweshallcallJohnClayton,LordGreystoke,wascommissionedtomakeapeculiarlydelicateinvestigationofconditionsinaBritishWestCoastAfricanColonyfromwhosesimplenativeinhabitantsanotherEuropeanpowerwasknowntoberecruitingsoldiersforitsnativearmy,whichitusedsolelyfortheforciblecollectionofrubberandivoryfromthesavagetribesalongtheCongoandtheAruwimi.ThenativesoftheBritishColonycomplainedthatmanyoftheiryoungmenwereenticedawaythroughthemediumoffairandglowingpromises,butthatfewifanyeverreturnedtotheirfamilies.
TheEnglishmeninAfricawentevenfurther,sayingthatthesepoorblackswereheldinvirtualslavery,sinceaftertheirtermsofenlistmentexpiredtheirignorancewasimposeduponbytheirwhiteofficers,andtheyweretoldthattheyhadyetseveralyearstoserve.
AndsotheColonialOfficeappointedJohnClaytontoanewpostinBritishWestAfrica,buthisconfidentialinstructionscenteredonathoroughinvestigationoftheunfairtreatmentofblackBritishsubjectsbytheofficersofafriendlyEuropeanpower.Whyhewassent,is,however,oflittlemomenttothisstory,forhenevermadeaninvestigation,nor,infact,didheeverreachhisdestination.
