The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-12
BACK FROM AFRICA.
The Canadian Contingent Returns Homo
Their Story Told.

HALIFAX, N. S., March 4, lSS5,-After an
absence of almost six months, the greater part
Of which was spent in navigating dangerous
cataracts OF the Nile for Gen. Wolseley's ex-
pedition, POI of Canadian boatmen returned
this morning to their native soil by the Allan
steamer Hanoverian, Their passage across
from Queenstown was n very stormy one
From the time the ship sailed until she came
in sight Of the Nova Scotia coast there was
continuation of most violent gales. On Friday
last II terrible hurricane was encountered, last
ing between six and eight hours, but no
damage of consequence was sustained. Tho
mon say they were splendidly treated by tho
officers of the Hanoverian, their life on board
OF her being entirely opposite Of their expert
cnce on tho transport Poonah, between Alex
andra and Queenstown, when the accom-
notation provided, according to statements
made, was OF the most discreditable character.
Two hundred OF them were placed in the hold
of the vessel in place unable to aceommo-
date, at the outside, over so, md where
Jumps had to be kept lighted both day and
night Their meat was served out in raw
state, and they were told that those who chose
could cook it themselves. On the second day
out the Canadians were ordered to "scrub up"
but tho command was fatty refused in
language OF a very decided character. Not
single man in the entire party speaks favorably
of the captain OF the Poonah. AS soon as
possible, after tho arrival of the Hanoverian,
The men were hurried ashore, passing from the
steamer over the gangway into q large shed,
ut tho terminus of the mtero olonial railway.
Tho doors of this were all closet to prevent
The exit of my so inclined, and q special train
| was in waiting to start them of for their vari
| Gus destinations.
| About ID hours after reaching the wharf,
they steamed off toward home, On board ono
OF the cars, while the train was making tho
distance between Halifax and Truro, a cor
respondent held a long conversation with one
| of the most intelligent of the voyaSeurs on
their experience in the Nile country The
| boa,man detailed incidents of tho expedition
from Wady IIuln to Dongoa, the dangers OK
| perienced in passing over the worst cataracts
and interesting and amusing occurrences of
| the trip. The whnlers used in the expedition
| arc described as unfit for service, being con-
| structed of material far too light for such
waters, where bat a Sigh: jac against a rock
| would knock n hole in tho bottom of one and
ruin her. The pattern of the boats also was
wrong, their keel being lar too deep, and in
other respects the crafts were unsatisfactory.
| Many were wrecked bcyoad repair by striking
| on rocks, and in some cases quantities of pro-
visions were lost. While the boats were occu.
pied by the soldiers, tha Canadians one of
| whom was placed in the bow of each, were
! sole commanders, though non commissioned
officer was in every cuse along with each boat
| load. Nearly all tho drowning accidents
that happened were by Tho swapping Of
boats in passing catarac;s, and in one instance
the vovagenrs lay blame for the less of life of
one oil the Can dams by his submitting to an
order given by an officer on his boat. A num-
Der of boats bad passed safely over he cataract
at Amblkof and Faulkner. A bontman in an
| other was about following in exactly the same