The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-17

the water. At sunrise we were about
twenty miles southeast Of Bumbireh, and
by noon were about twenty-five miles off.
At this time we had q strong breeze from
the northwest, and we sped before it at
the rate of five knots an hour. At sun
set we were about twelve miles northeast
of Sosua or Gosua island, and If the
breeze continued favorable we hoped to
be able to make haven some time be-
fore nightfall. But the breeze, about s
p. M, rose to fierce gale, and, owing
to the loss of our oars, we could not keep
the boat before the wind.
THE sTORM-DEATH ON EVERY HAND.
AS we were swept by the island we
made frantic efforts to get to leeward,
but it was to no purpose we therefore
resigned ourselves to the wind..and waves,
the furious rain and horror of the heav-
ems. Most of your readers, no doubt,
have experienced gale of wind at sea !;
few, however, can have witnessed it in a
small boat. But our situation was more
dangerous even than the latter. Wehad
rocks and unknown islands in our neigh
borhood, and few miles further main
land peopled by savages, who would
have no scruple in putting us to death
or making slaves of us. If our boat cap
sized the crocodiles of the lake would
make short work of us if we were driven
on an uninhabited island death by starva-
ton awaited us.
Yet, with all these terrors, we were SO
worn out with hunger, fatigue, and anx-
iety that, excepting the Waterman, we
all fell asleep, though awakened now and
then by his voice calling the men to bale
the boat out.
REFUGE ISLAND.
At daybreak the tempest and high
waves subsidized, and we perceived we
had drifted eight miles westward of So
sua. and to within six miles of the large
island of Mysomeh. We had not a NOR
sci of food in the boats had but lit
ground coffee, and we had tasted nothing
else for forty eight hours yet the crew,
when called to resume their rough pad
dies, cheerfully responded and did their
duty manfully. A gentle breeze set in
from the westward, which bore us quickly
east of Sosua, and carried us by 2 p. m.
to an island which [ have distinguished
by the name of Refuge island.
On exploring this island we found it
to be about two miles in circumference,
to have been formerly inhabited and Gull
tivated, and, to our great JOY, we found
an abundance of green bananas, and OF
small ripe fruit resembling cherries in
appearance and size, but having the
taste of dates. To add to this bounty I
succeeded in shooting two brace of large
fat ducks, and when night closed in on
us, in our snug and secure camp close
by strip of sandy beach, few people
that night blessed God more fervently
than we did.
INHOSPITABLE SINGERS.
We rested day on Refuge island,
during which time we made amends for
the scarcity we had suffered, then feel
ing on the second day somewhat recov-
cred, we set sail for Singo island. We
imagined we were near enough to Uku-
srma to venture to visit Ito island, stu
ated mile south of Singo, whose slopes
we're verdant with the frontage of banana
and plantain, but, on attempting to land,
were met by force of natives who rude.
" repulsed us with stones shot from
sings. Our cartridges being all spoiled
by the late rainy weather we we're I'M
able to do more than hoist sail and
speed away to more kindly shores.
| LAYING IN SUPPLIES.
Two days afterward our boat rounded
the southwestern extremity OF WlrO,
peninsula of Ukerewe, and rode on the
gray waters Of Spoke gulf, the distant
shore line of Usukuma bounding the
view south about twenty-five miles off.
A strong head wind rising, we turned
into small bay in Wiro peninsula,
where we purchased meat, potatoes,
milk, honey, ripe and green bananas,
eggs, and poultry; and while our boat
was at anchor, cooked these del1cacles
on board and ate with such relish and
appetite as only starving men can prop
erly appreciate, grateful to Providence
and kindly disposed to all men.
HAILsToNEs BIG AS FILBERTs.
At midnight, taking advantage of a
| favorable wind, we set sail for Usuku
ma. About 3 a. NJ. we were nearly III
mid gulf, and here the tickle wind failed
us; and then, as if resolved we should
taste to the utmost all it's power, it met
us with tempest of hailstones as large
as filberts from the north-northeast.
The sky was robed in inky blackness,
not star was visible, vivid lightnlngs,
accompanied by loud thunder crashes,
and waves which tossed us up and down
as though we were imprisoned in a
gourd, lent their terrors to this fearful
night. Again we let the boat drift
whittier it might, as all our efforts to
keep on our course were useless and
vain. Indeed, we began to think that
the curse of the people of Bumbireh,
eco and die in the Niyanza,' might
be realized after all, though I had
much faith in the staunch boat which
Messenger, of Teddington, so consci-
entiously built.
RETURN TO CAMP.
A gray, cheerless raw morning dawned
at last, and we discovered ourselves to be
/ te,, miles north of RnWoma. and twenty