The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-05-03
NO. 81.
A BABY'S TRAVELS.
THE ONLY WHITE CHILD EVER TAKEN
TO THE LAKES OF AFRICA.

| i'i''io ach mono anu HOW He WaSsVt6w9d
by the Nativos--A Wonderful Sight for
| tho saVages.
(From the Now York SUM-
Little Jack Homo was an English baby
and he was three months old when he
landed on the east coast of Africa. His
father was missionary and jack and
his mother were on the way to the home
that had been prepared for them in
Central Africa. The journey was 800
miles long, up hill down, through Jungle,
forest and plain, and it was serious
question how little Jack could be carried
comfortably over the rude native pathe
to Lake Tanganyika. His father thought
that wheelbarrow was likely to be the
best vehicle for Jack, and so arrange
ments had been made in England to
have Jack trundled in a barrow ~ the
way from the coast to the big lake where
he was to live.
A deep and commodious basket was
provided for the baby. On the bottom
OF the basket was as soft little bed as
could be made, and the entire inside was
padded SO that Jack could not easily
hurt himself. The basket was placed in
II steel wheelbarrow frame. An awning
above the basket was supported by iron
rods, and, when required, mosquito
curtains could be let down. This was to
be Jacks carriage on the march, and
whom i'll camp at night the basket was to
be placed in Mrs. Homes tent to serve
Jack as bed.
Jack was asleep in his fathers arms
when he landed on the coast of Africa.
at Saadani, near Zanzibar. He was
tucked away i'll his little basket, and one
of the porters trundled him along in his
wheelbarrow near the head of the caravan.
Close behind him rode Jacks mother
on donkey. Once in O while the baby
was lifted out of the wheelbarrow for
change and carried mile or two in his
mothers arms. Usually Jack rode along
in the little vehicle very quietly, and he
seemed to take as kindly to his wheel
barrow as other babes do to the most
comfortable of cradles. Even when the
road was hammooky Jack did not seem
to mind it, and the jouncing he got only
seemed to put him in good humor for a
nap. 1t happened, however, that Jack
was not destined to travel all the way to
Central Africa in wheelbHfrow. After
they had climbed the coast moutains and
were hundred and fifty miles on their
way it was found inexpedient on account
of unexpected difficulties on the road for
Mrs. Hone and the baby to 20 any
farther that year. So Jack was wheeled
back to the coast again and before long
he turned up in England none the worse
for his jaunt of 300 miles in q wheel
barrow.
Early in 1884, whom Jack was a little
I oll
Saadani. There were stories from ND
country of widespread drought and
famine, but nothing daunted Mr.. Hone,
who had come all the way from Central
Africa to meet his family, decided to set
out with them at once on the long
journey to the beautiful lake, which,
though narrow, is one of the longest
fresh water lakes in the world. This
time tho wheelbarrow was discarded.
The willow body of baby carriage was
turned into tiny palanquin for jacks
1t was suspended by
stout ropes from couple of bamboos.
Along the bamboOs was stretched
canvass awning, impervious alike to sun
or rain, with movable sides; that could
be fastened up or down at pleasure.
-Four natives were assigned to the task
of carrying Master Jack in his unique
little conveyance. The bamboos were
supple, and as the carriers trudged along
there was delightful springiness about
the rig that greatly pleased Jack. His
mother was carried in q bath chair rugged
up in similar fashion.
Jack got along famously until he was
stricken with fever, and then he insisted
much of the time upon travelling in his
mothers lap. When the long caravan
halted for the noontime lunch the first
duty Of the men was to pitch tent in
which to shelter Jack and his mother
from the scorching sun. The little fellows
great delight was In crossing rivers in
the big canoes the natives keep for
ferrying, caravans. He usually sat in
state in his little armchair, and some
times used string and bent pin to fish
for crocodiles, with invariably poor
success. One day a porter ran away
with canvas bag containing large part
of Jacks wardrobe. In land where
caravans use great deal of cotton cloth
to pay their way there was of course
plenty of material at hand to repair
Jacks loss, which he bore with more
than the rest of his family
Sometimes they travelled for hours
through gross that was high above their
heads, ard in the early morning Jack
liked to listen to the dew drops as they
fell like rain upon the top of his palan-
quin, while the carriers plodded along
through tho luxuriant growth Of grass.
Many of the marches were very weari-
some, and Mrs. Hone wrote that she and
Jack often presented very dragglod
appearance when the halt was made for
the day.
The Journey lasted ninety days. At
last the beautiful waters of Lake
Ianganyika came into view, and little
Jack was delighted when his family
embarked in a big boat for the long
journey for the island of Kavala. He
thought the songs of the crew as they
bent to their oars were particularly Jolly.
lie is now living on Kavala island, and,
though he is the only little white boy in
Centra Africa, ho seems to be thoroughly
enjoying his boyhooG. Friends in Eng
land have sent him many toys, which he
shar' with his Waguha pIaymates, and
he does not now remember that he ever
had any other home than Africa.
One Of the most successful features
of a recent "itorary entertainment" in q
town the other evening was chung
whiting contest nv ladipa - Each pf