The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-04-18
WHOLE No. 2,2O1

about the huts or browzed knee-deep
in the succulent grass. Goats, lively
and frsksome, skipped about the banks
or with fierce aspect tried the mimic
fight. Sheep loaded with enormous
fat tails webbing about their legs,
looked as if aweary of existence and
ready to welcome the knife" In every
direction lay the most magnificent pros
pect; "to the North lowered, sover-
eign, majestic, awful in its silent calm,
the snowclad peak of Kibo." East
South and West varied realm of deep
wales, forests and jungles, cleaning
lakes, noisy I rrents, strange shaped
mountains. relics of volcanic days,
while Kilimanjaro stands forth, I'M
shrouded from top to bottom, with its
SCARED and rugged sides and its neigh
boring peak Of Meru, rising 5000 feet
above the plain like "cyclopean py-
ramid."
TIE FIRST ENCOUNTER.
Having obtained the necessary permits
| sion, Mr.. Thomson fortified his camp in
Mandara's domains. aud used his enforc-
ed leisure in trying to ascent Kiliman-
ja"o. Owing 10 the provoking taDgle of
trees, creepels and orchids, and the wear
mess of his men, he succeeded in reach.
| ing an altitude of only 5000 feet, with
the foreso s,ll reaching above him.
When he ,etu ned to camp he was foolish
enough to make an exhibition of his
guns, galvanic instruments and other
curiosities before Mandara. The sight
| kindled the Princes cupidity, and the
traveller had to purchase the powerful
warriors good will by costly present.
| This episode lost them four days. At
last, after the proper incarnation had
been made, they started out on their
dangerous march in a drenching rain.
The guides struck for pre- payment; the
party got lost in a fearful tapgle of
| gloomy forest, from which they were
with difficulty rescued. Mr.. Thomson
himself was stricken with fever. The
game was abundant and dangerous; buff
faloes rushed madly out at them; lions
and hyenas were around; and, most dan
gerous of all, they were liable at any
moment to encounter the Nasal. They
now learned that German explorer with
800 men had an encounter with these
fierce sons of the wilderness only few
days before, and that the whole country
was on fiie with excitement. 1t was
about the LIST of May that Mr.. Thomson
saw his first Nasal. "Seizing our guns
in one hand" he SAYS, land a tuft of
| grass IN the Other, in token that we were
prepared to fight, but meant peace, we
Pro eeGed outside to bear our fate" He
was SUI prised at The splendid bearing of
'fhe dreaded Wal io,s chat had been SO
long the subject Of his waking Dreams"
1'5ey were dignifed, grave and aristo-
cratic; the spokesman of the party was
eloquent. graceful and fluent. The re-
suit Of the interview was that they well
coined their while bl other 70 their hospi-
tulity. Though he was the second Euro
pean they had ever seen, they showed
none of the obtrusive, vulgar inquisitive-
ness or aggressive impertinence which
makes the travellers life burden to him
among other native tribes.
So the die was cast. s'Leaving the
forest county round the base of Eibo-
noto and tiavers'ng rich and varied
scene we suddenly emerged" he says,
"at a height Of 5000 feet, on a great tree
less plain, covered with close and sue
culent coating of grass quite undsting-
Unstable from the pasture of more lem
perate china es." The gently-rolling
plain bole helds of huge buffaloes, ''harm-
less but fierce-looking" hartebeest gam
bo'ed and galloped about; striped zebras
giaaed, there marching with Stately step
with heads downbent, there enjoying
themselves by kicking their heels in
midair or running open mouthed in mimic
fight, anon standing as if transfixed, with
heads erect and projecting eals, wa.ch-
ing The Caravan pass" Mighty rhinoce-
roses, with Offensive and pugnacious"
hoins, possessed the grassy hollows; os-
Ii iches scudded away; graceful pallah"
,eaped with great bounds; digniied
water. bucks cropped the g,ass among
the eeds in the ma sh; comical wart-
hogs scampered for covert With tails
elect. Such a'e the brute habtants of
I this wonde, Jul land.
NATIVE BLACKMAIL.
1t was not long before the little cara
van began to attract the attention Of
other bands of Nasal who we've pasturing
their cattle on the plain. Dy noon the
party we,e encamped by clear stream
and the arrangements were made for
paying the inev: able change or blacl-
MALL "We had not long to wait. A war
chant was heard in the distance, and soon
party of Elmoran (walriorsl, in all the
unctuous glory of a new plastering of red
clay and grease, appeared marching in
single file and keeping step to their song,
their murder GUS spears cleaning in the
sun as they gave them now and then
rotary movement. They carr led their
heavy shields by their side on which was
seen the newly painted heraldic device of
their par;icu clan. AS they neared
our camp they halted, and proceeded to
go through variety of evolut;ons dis
tjnctly military. "They we, e soon quar-
ieliug among themselves like dogs over
the iron chains and strings of beads.
Party after party arrived and went
through the same formula. By evening
the camp was crowded, and the dignifed
bearing of the barbarians had entirely
disappeared. They began to show not
only insolent curiosity, but more danger
, symptoms. One Notwithstanding war;
rior, whv had been particular annoying
in feeling of Mr.. Thomson's hair, push
ing up the sleeves of his coat, and exam
lining bis boots, began to turn up his
trousers so as to see the natural integu-
ment below.
Putting on bold face, and talking
r openly of pushing forward Immediately,
:, Mr.. Thomson threw the Nasal off their
guard. When night set in, dark and