The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-09
The Great Explorers Survey Of
the Victoria Niyanzs.
EXCITING ADVENTURES.
Driven Away from Makongo by
Unfriendly Natives.
A SEARCH FOR FOOD.
A Sail to the Island Of
Bumbireh.
MET BY SABLE FURIES.
MET BY SABLE FUR|ES.
Shekka's Treachery-A Running Fight
The Savages Discounted.
go AND DIE IN THE NIYANZA!"
Adrift on the Lake in a Storm
Death on Every Hand.
SAFE RETURN TO CAMP AT LAST.
MAHYIGA ISLAND.
THREE MILES FROM BUMBIREH ISLAND
LAKE VICTORIA NIYANZA, July %. 1873 J

MAHYIGA ISLAND. J
THREE MILES FROM BUMBIREH IsI.AND,y
LAKE VICTORIA NIyANzA, July %, 1873.
This expedition which you have intrusted to me
seems destined to meet with adventures more than
enough. When boy loved to read books of adj
venture and travel, especially of the Aayne Reid
type and followed their several heroes with breath
less interest through all their varied fortunes; but
since have been compelled lately to act the hero OF
the adventure oftener than is consistent with peace
of mind and comfortable nights rest however
glorious thing 1t may appear on paper you may
take my word for it would much rather read of the
adventure than be an actor in it.
FORMER TRIPS cHILD's PLAY.
As compare my former trip to UjUi with this
journey am forced to admit that the former was
mere child's play. The adventures We have gone
through already, If faithfully related would Ill a
good sized volume, while, may say, we have but
begun our journey as yet.
CONTINUED FROM HIS LAST.
Continuing my narrative of our journey from
Uganda to Usukuma by the western shore of Lake
Niyanza, resume 1t from the point left Off in my
We had two canoes belonging to Mtesa accom-
panying our boat an escort, until the diatcry
Grand Admiral Magassa should overtake us with his
feet OF thirty canoes and the day we left the
Kagera River we rested at night on smooth, sandy
beach at the foot of the Usongoro plateau at point
called Kagya. The natives were friendly and dis
posed to be hospitable, so that we argued well for
our reception during travels along the coast Of
Usongora-
AFRICAN BEER COBBLERS.
The next afternoon we camped at Makongo and
received apparently friendly welcome by the
natives each of whom was engaged as we landed
In the grave occupation OF imbibing pombe or beer
by means Of long straw pipes, exactly rs we take
''sherry cobblcr' or a 'mint juep" in the United
States. The chief slightly reeed he forward
to salute me- and his eyes had that uncertain gaze
which seemed to hint that he saw double, or two
white men when there was only one. However, he
and his people were good natured--and contented
with our arrival.
A THREATENING DEMONSTRATION.
About ten r. NJ. we were all awakened from sleep
by furious drumming, accompanied now and
then by shrll yes. The waganda said that this
drumming and yelling was in welcome to the white
stranger. l did not believe them, and therefore put
my people their guard, ordered them to load
their guns and place them under their sleeping mats
and arranged all my own in handy and safe posi-
ton. Except the continued drumming and yelling
nothing occurred during the night but at daybreak
we found ourselves in presence of about 500 war
riors, armed with bow. shield and spear who had
crept quietly the camp, and then had stood up
in semicrcle, preventing all escape save by wa
ter. / was 30 astonished by this sudden appartion
OF such large body OF armed men that could
barely believe that we were still Mtesa's territory.
SILENCE THAT MEANT DANGER.
There was also something very curious in their
demcanor For there was no shouting, yelling or
frantic BEHAVIOR as we had several times witnessed
on the part OF savagcs when about 10 commit them
selves by desperate deed. They all wore a CON-
posed though stern and determined aspect 1t
was terrible moment to us. We knew not what to
make of these hundreds OF armed savages, who per-
sisted in being silent and gave hint to their in
tentions unless the forest OF spears might be taken
as clear, unmstakable and explicit hint that their
object was a bloody We feared TO make
movement lest it might precIpitate a catastrophe
which might possibly be averted so we remained
few minutes silently surveying each other
ORDERED AWAY by THE CHIEF.
The silence was soon broken, however, 10y the APP
pearance OF the chief who had welcomed ms Though
he was then inebriatcd the evening before. lie had
n long stick in his hand, which he nourished before
the faces Of the savagrs. and by this means drove
them several PAGES back ward. He then came for
ward and, striking the boat, ordered MS TO get or
and he himself lent hand to shove the boat into
the lake.
As the boat glided into the water another chief
came forward and asked us what we meant 10y
drawing our boat up so far on their beach, We re-
piled that had done it to protect the boat from
the surf, and were about to add more reasons when
the first chief cut the matter short by ordering us
to shove or and go and camp on Musira Island,
distant four miles, whittier he would follow us with
food.
GLAD TO GIT OPP.
We were nothing loath TO obey such good coun-
sci, and soon put n distance OF 100 yards between
ourselves and the hostile beach. AS the waganda