New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-01
A NASAL ADVENTURE.

MASAILAND,S ETC.
Truth is sometimes so much stranger than fiction
that il is not always wise to tel IT, i have been
SO much impressed by the wisdom Of this that
haN, u.theIto rclrained from putting on record an
adventure which befell me while wandering in
inner Africa Indeed | had sufficient excuse Tor
being silent recalling TO mind tho many travel
lers who have had occasion to repent their In
genuOus candor.
or late, however, have come to the conclusion
that my fears were groundless, especially on re-
marking that recently more than one " travellers
tale" has been received by an applaudlng paonc
without scepticism. Thus encouraged, l venture
TO recount at least one chapter OF my unwritten
experience of African adventure.
1t happened IN this wise During the course OF
my exploration of Masai-and, with the object OF
finding direct route TO Victoria Nyanza and the
Upper Nile Provinces, had reached after many
trial, and hardShipS, Lake Naivasha, in the very
heart of the country, bat only halfway toward
my goal Here | conceived the daring PROJECT OF
leaving the direct road and making "a flying vlslt
to Mount Kenia the second snow-clad mountain
of Africa No sooner thought Of than set about
With n small party of thirty picked men, leit
the main body of my caravan TO continue It's way
north, while set my face to the east
Scaling the steep face Of tn escarpment which
forms the eastern wall OF the curious volcanic
trough through which We had hitherto marched,
we reached the plateau land OF Lykipa at a height
of over 5000 feet, to find what appeared to US
then raylshingly beautiful landscape before
us. After the stern thorn-scrub and sandy plain
OF the region below, we galCd with denght on
the charming interchange of ridge and hollow
grassy gddeS ana luAuflanV forest, 10 WHICH tio
dark mass of the Aberdare range, rising to height
OF $4,000 feet, added majesty and picturesque
ness. TO Us also the air at this altitude was one
of celebrating freshness, while last but by no
means least the great herds of game which could
everywhere be promised good supply OF
food.
Nothing could be better than all this, nothing
more enjoyable. Speedily we found, however,
that our trip had another and less pleasing SIDE
adding romance and danger TO 1t truly, but IN
way we could very well have afforded to dispense
WIT This less plpaSnL side appeared In the
.uersOns OF Nasal warriors These noble savages'
proved 10 be exceedingly numerous, ana they were
known to be about the most dangerous OF all tne
cmn Nasal. But at this time they were douoiy
dangerous. Their cattle, which formed their sole
means Of subsistence, were daily dylnS IN
thousands, .r struck down by deadly n% ~
disease The whole country was one huge
stinkIng Gogotha and tine people were
III despair many indeed dying VI starvation. NO
more dangerous time could nave oeeh louno 10
enter the country. Like most savages they couId
not understand a natural origin oil disease lt
could only be produced, they believed by hgal
God or men assisted by black magic. On my
appearance among them was at once seen TO be o
phenomenal be ns and therefore, by their simple
logic, possessed of phenomenal powers. 1 was
dubbed forthwith the bon nebor or WHITE m as
cine man. This was all very gratifying az hrsS
but my pride in my new name was speedily turned
to dismay discovering that the Nasal were
divided into two camps in their opinion OF me
There was that of the El-Moruu, or married men;
who held that benign lybon, and would
bv nv supernatural gifts speedily cure their cattle.
The second division comprised IN" ci-Mortn, VI
warriors, all young men, TO WHOM the cu1tihg Oh
throats and the smashing Of human skulls were
the dearest enjoyment on earth these held Iha1
! We, a malignant lybon, and IN reanty the caus;
Of the terrible epidemic and therefore the sooner
was done 10 death the better 1t would be lor
themselves and their cattle
Here indeed was a terribly ticklish and dangerous
posjtion to get into. How was TO play the roie
of the ma gician IN such way as to encourage the
EMoruu in their faith and unaerm bsu 'he , sps
belief in nv supernatural yet benign powers
Happily by very lucky chance-or should say
by a special providence pIl was the happy ow i
of a couple Of false teeth 1.-THE originals having
been knocked out when i was a boy and oy the
skilful manipulation OF these, IN a manner eIse-
where described. was enabled 10 strlke .er ,Sd
INTO the hearts OF my enemies, anu strehgInen 'ne
beliefs Of my friends"
This trick with the aid of others. proved to be
successful for time but meanwhno ',r
Their owners began TO murmur and demand sonle
more tang bic evidence OF my heanng pS"e III,
Nv establishments lost their influence, and my
reasons were deemed unsatisfactory. They be
came increasingly insistent. more ana more threa.
onino in their attitude. From morning TILL nign'
we were worried out OF our lives Inc nasNe'
still preserved certain amount Of fear and re-
sncct for me but they drove my men nearly mao
by their playful ways Of feigning TO stso them o.
by significant taps the head with thelr Oi00o
stainrd clubs as if TO try the hardness of Wa
swabili skulls Daily we got deeper ana dcepel
iato harassing troubles, and as YET we mao oniS
s,ot a distant glimpse OF the glitterlng peak o.
Nonnt Kenia But we had now another anc
almost more potent reason for going on. We dc
not dare go back. Like person caught III
auic ksand. our SAFEST course seemo" w 'e "
founder forward
Uarassed and worn out by daily rear OF mas
sacre and IA thousand worries, men becoming weaf
and sick from eating repulsive diseased meat-oul
only food as we did not dare use our guns u
shoot came-wc had reached camp one night
some four marches from the base Oh hehis' 'n'
immediate goal Of our wanderlngs
No onr supreme relief and delight we coul'
soc no evidence of the neghbOrhood OF Nasal an'
we promised ourselves one n'ann AZ 90 sscnritv
and nerbaps patly feeling OF reckless lndineIenc
which had taken possession OF us that maui t u
more careless than usual in constructing the thorl
fence or bona round our camp "iVio"o WIN" '"
never dared go to sleep. .
NJ small tent was pitched at one side close u
the fence while the men were huddled t9eetne
FOR warmth and safety round fires some dlStahc
/ had had almost no sleep for several night night
owing to the ncessant attempts OF 'as,i enien :
a. ncnct ra,e the camp This they knew they cou
a. pS,;,b imo1nity AS we never dared use our niles
Under such circumstances IT AFFORDED immense iul
TO the reckless young Nasal blades 10 worry US %
their midnight theving and even 'a,t, in
plots On this night however every1nln
prom sed well. thoroughly good nigh. bic.
would make up for much lost time; lne scam an
remnants of a seased bullock, which we had pee pee
so fortunate 10 secure on the previous oay
stayed the worst pangs Of hunger; then, at nlgh'
fall the sentlnels were set, and, with the usu0
ininnctions about undaggng watchfulness, turne
into my tent. No sleep however, came TO m'
The tension on my nerves had been too much, an
7 aosscd about on nv hard camp bed unable eve
"a doze. Sleep would have come In time, doubt
les but 20 add to my troubles got violen
toothache Becoming desperate. determined :
try An opate. Jumping up, j groped in the dark
ness a" in one Of my boxes till found small med
cine case. Selecting, pbal Of chorodyne b
yaasps of the smell, | went TO the door OF m
., and bv the light OF the distant camp fir,
,ccIsIpSsly poured into the hollow OF my han
rSbat must have been very large dose. and with
out more ado sucked ~ up.
Nov 7 will get some sleep surely" thougl
90 mvself As returned to my camp bed and role
,oys,if in my blanket. Nor was mistaken. II
Sa,hie warmth crept through me. The tootl
nshe hisnnreared and with delightful feeln