The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-06-26
A TERRIBLE JOURNEY.

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The following thrilling narrative is
taken from Sir Samuel w. Bakers ac-
count of his travels in search of the
Nile sources, published in the last vol
ume of the Standard Library, London,
under the title, ''In the Heart of Afri-
Ca" Mr.. Baker was accompanied
throughout by his wife, and at the point
where this narrative begins the party
were but few days journey from the
source of the Nile:
On the morning of the second day
we had difficulty in collecting porters,
those of the preceding day having alb
seconded; and others were recruited
from distant villages by the native es-
cort. who enjoyed the excuse of hunt
ing for porters, as it gave them an OPP
portunity of foraging throughout the
neighborhood. During this time We
had to wait until the sun was high; we
thus lost the cool hours of morning,
and it increased our fatigue. Having
at length started we arrived in the af-
ternoon at the kafoor river, at q bend
from the south where it was necessary
to cross over in our westerly course.
The stream was in the center of q
marsh, and, although deep, it was COW
cred with thickly-matted water-grass
and other aquatic plants that o natur-
al floating bridge was established by q
carpet of weeds about two feet thick.
Upon this waving and unsteady sur
face the men ran quickly across. sink
ing merely to the ankles, although be-
meath the tough vegetation there was
deep water.
1t was equally impossible to ride or
to be carried over this treacherous sur
face; thus led the way, and begged
Mrs. Baker to follow me on foot rs
quickly as possible, precisely in my
track. The river was about eighty
yards wide, and had scarcely COM
pleted fourth of the distance and
looked back to see if my wife followed
close to me, when l was Mortified to
see her standing in one spot and sink
ing gradually through the weeds,
while her face was distorted and per-
fectly purple. Almost as soon as per-
ceived her she fell as though shot dead.
In an instant was by her side. and
with the assistance of eight or ten of
my men, who were fortunately close to
me, l dragged her like corpse through
the yielding vegetation; and up to our
waists we scrambled across to the 9TH
er side, just keeping her head above the
water. To have carried her would
have been impossible, as we should all
have sunk together through the weeds.
/ laid her under q tree and bathed her
head and face with water, as for the
moment thought she had tainted; but
she lay perfectly insensible, as though
dead, with teeth and hands firmly
clinched, and her eyes open but fix
ed. 1t was a coup de sOleiL-a sun
stroke.
Many of the porters had gone on
ahead with the baggage. and started
Oft man in haste to recall an angarep
upon which to carry her and also for q
bag with Il change of clothes as we had
dragged her through the river. 1t was
in vain that rubbed her heart and the
black women rubbed her feet to restore
animation. At length the litter came,
and after changing her clothes she was
carried mOurnfully forward as a corpse.
Constantly rs we had to stop and sup
port her head, a painful rattiing in the
throat betokened sutfocation. At length
we reached village and halted for the
night.
l laid her carefully in a miserable
hut, and watched beside her. l opened
her clinched teeth with small wooden
wedge and inserted wet rag, upon
which dropped water to moisten her
tongue. which was dry as fur. The
unfeeling brutes that composed the ma
tive escort were yelling and dancing
as though all were well, and l ordered
their chief to at once return with them
to Kamrasi, as l would travel with
them no longer. At first they refused
to return, until at length vowed that
l would fire into them. Day broke,
and it WAS a relief to have got rid of
the brutal escort. They had departed.
and l now had my own men and the
guides supplied by Kamrasi.
There was nothing to eat in this spot.
My wife had never stirred since she
fell by the coap de soleil, and merely
respired about five times in minute.
1t was impossible to remain; the peo-
pie would have starved. She was laid
gently upon her litter, and we started
forward on our funereal course. was
ill and broken-heartcd, and l followed
by her side through the long days
march over wild park lands and
streams, with thick forest and deep.
marshy bottoms, over undulating hills
and through the valleys of tall papyrus
rushes, which, as we brushed through
them on our melancholy way, waved
over the litter like the black plumes of
q hearse.
We halted at village and again the
night was passed in watching. l was
wet and coated with mud from the
swampy marsh and shivered with ague;
but the cold within was greater than
all. No change had taken place; she
had never moved. had plenty of fat,
and l made four balls of about half q
pound, each of which would burn for
three hours. A piece of u broken water
jar formed q lamp, several pieces OF
the still calm night passed away as l
sat by her side and watched. In the
drawn and distorted features that lay
before me could scarcely trace the
same face that for years had been my
comfort through all the difficulties and
dangers of my path. Was she to diep
Was so terrible sacrifice to be the re-
suit of my selfish exile?
Again the night passed away. Once
more the march. Though weak and
ill, and for two nights without o
moments sleep, felt no fatigue, but
mechanically followed by the side of
the litter us though in dream. The
same wild country diversified with
marsh and forest! Again we halted.
The night come. and sat by her side
in miserable hut, with the feeble
lamp Pickering while she lay MS in
death. She had never moved - muscle
since she fell. My people slept. | was
alone, and no sound broke the stiffness
of the night. The ears mhed ut the
utter silence, till the sudden wild cry
of a hyena made me shudder as the
horrible thought rushed through my
brain that, should she be buried in this
lonely spot, the hyena-would disturb
her rest.
The morning was not far distant; it
was past o'clock. had passed the
night in replacing wet cloths upon
her head and moistening her lips, as