Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-06-26
ANIMAL WONDERS OF S. AT
RIGA.

There is no part of the world which pre-
sents more curious and remark able features
than Africa. We are tolerably well ac-
quainted with its shores, washed on the
west by the Atlantic on the east, by the
Indian Ocean aud Red Sea and ON the
north, by Mediterranean. These shores
are inhabited by people Of various faces
the northan part being mostly Arabs aud
their descendants, aud the southern part
beng mostly negroes OF different tribes
Of the interior OF Africa, we have less
knowledge Travellers have furnished US
some accounts, indeed of the great desert
of Sahara, which extends across the north
ern part of Africa, from Egypt to the At
/ laltic.-Its length is between 5000 and
1890 miles, by 1900 or 1000 miles IN width.
| This immense space, equal to all Europe IN
extent, is dreary waste Of sand, with nu-
merCus fertile spots, called cases. A few
roam over this mighty desert with their
nocks of camels. but there are no large
towns or cities throughout the whole.
To the south of the great desert are nu-
merous negro tribes, inhabling fine coun-
try.--South of this region are the mountains
Of the Moon, extending entirely across Al
nca, from the Atlantic TO the Red Sea.
To the south of these mountains is a vast
extent of territory, called Ethiopia. OF
/ tins we know very little. No traveller has
explored it and no native of the country
has ever been found who could give an ac-
count oft. 1t is believed to be an elevated
territory of sterile sands, rocks aud deserts,
inhabited by few people, but the abode Of
numerous wild animals.
Still further south Is an extensive coun-
try, of which we are now going to give
some account. In tins wide space remote
from tie sea, there are large tracts uninnab-
tied by man. but Astounding in animal curl
osllles. Here is the abode of troops of ele-
plants, droves of graiies, herds of zebras,
thousands of anteopes of various kinds
with lions, jackas, panthers and hyenas,
proving upon them. 1t is IN these regions.
that an Englishman, by the name OF Cum
ming, has lately spent several years of his
life III hunting wild animals.
He left Graham's town in 1913, with a
covered wagon, eighteen feet long and four
feet wide. drawn by twelve small oxen He
had also two horses and three or four SER
wants. His provisions consisted of 800
pounds of coffee, four chests of tea. 300
pounds of sugar, 300 pounds Of rice, with
q lou7, pepper, salt, vinegar pickles, ham
checses, gin, brandy, baklng-pols siewing,
frying, and saucepans, grlduons, knives,
forks, &c.
He had also various ornaments tools, and
other articles for the purpose Of trading
with the Bechuana negroes, living in the
country through which, he was to pass lie
had three double-barreled rifles aud one
single barrel, carrying a heavy ball lie
had also three stout, dOuble-barseled guns,
with 90 900 bullets, 400 bounds of powder.
SO, 900 percussion caps, together with all
other articles necessary for such an eXpedi-
Iiou.
Thus provided, the adventurous hunter
began his Journey to the norlhward. For
some days, he travelled through a country
inhabited by scattered settlers. The roads,
however were very bad aud he passed
through many difficulties and dangers. On
his way, he met with small flocks of ante
lopes, which are here called springboks. He
also met with that extraordinary little crea-
ture, called the honeybrd In his account
of IL, he says, " 1t will invariably lead per-
son following II 20 wild bees nest chat
terlng aud twltterlng IN state OF great eX-
ctement, it perches on a branch beside the
traveller, eudeavoring, by various wlles, to
attract his attention. aud having succeeded
in so doing, il flies lightly forward IN wayy
course in the the direction of the bees nest,
alightlng every now aud then, aud looking
back To ascertain II the traveller IS follow
ing IT, all the time keeping up an lncessant
twliter.
When at length it arrives at the hollow
tree, or deserted white ants hdl, which con-
tains the honey IT for moment hoyers over
the nest pointing to it with It's bill, and then
takes up its position on neighborng
branch, auxiousy awaiting IFS share of the
spoil.-When the honey is taken, which is
accomplished by burning grass at the en-
trance of the domicIle, the honey-bird will
often lead TO a second, aud even to a third
nest. The person following it ought to
whistle. The savages, while IN pursuit, have
several charmed sentences, which they use
on the OCCASION
The author adds in respect to this won.
deriul bird, that sometimes he seems TO be
very mischieyous, leading the unwary fol-
lower upon the retreat of a lion panther, or
other furious beast. He was himself led
by honey-brd through the glades for up
wards of a nile 10 a marshy place, where
he came very near being devoured by
crocodile, hidden beneath the water, with
his head sticking out
The hunter slowly pursued his journey,
meeting with many adventures, and album
dance of game OF various kinds. In some
places, he saw thousands of anlelopes,
mingled with gnus bufialoes, aud zebras,
covering the plains as far as the eye could
reach.
/ We shall not undertake to tell all the adj
ventures of this extraordinary, hunter. 1t
seems that he penetrated into the country,
| FAR beyond the reach of the white settle
ments, and indeed into regions only oc-
cupied by wild animals Here he killed
hundreds OF elephants, lions, giraffes, rhl-
noceroses, zebras, antelopes, serpenIs, and
other creatures. lie appears to have been
occupied in this way four or i've years
| lie was for many months IN the wider
ness, hundreds of miles from the abodes
OF men, and attended only by two SER
wants. He was surrounded by multltudes
of Wild animals, upon which he made IN
ces SAINT slaughter sometimes for their
skins and horns and sometimes for food.