The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-05-02
A BABY'S TRAVELS.
TIE ONLY WHITE CHILD EVER TAKEN
TOTRE LAKES OF AFRICA.

10 EHE LAKES OF AE61CA.
Little Jack Hone and bow He Was..Viewed
by the Natiyes--A Wonderful Sight for
toe savages.
(From the New York Sun.)
Little Jack Hone was an English baby
and be 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 paths
70 Lake Tanganyiks. Hisfather 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 q barrow all 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
q 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
when in 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 in 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 while the baby
was lifted out of the wheelbarEow for q
change and carried q mile OF 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 hammocky Jack did not seem
to mind it, and the jouncing he got only
seemed to put him IN good humor for Q
nap. It happened, however, that jack
was not destined to travel all the way to
Central Africa in wheelbarrow. 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 go any
farther that year. So Jack was wheeled
back to the coast again and before long
he turned up in Eng land none the worse
for his jaunt of 800 miles in 8 wheel
barrow.
Early in 1884, when Jack was little
over years old, he landed again as
Saadani. There were stories from up
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 the wheelbarrow was discarded.
The willow body of a baby carriage was
turned into g tiny palanquin for Jacks
accommodation. 1t was suspended by
stout ropes from couple Of bamboos.
Along the bamboos was stretched q
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 bsmboos were
supple, and as the carriers trudged along
there was delightful springiness about
the rig that greatly pleased Jack. Hls
mother was carried IN bath chair r1gged
up in similar fashion.
Jack got along fsmously 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
ferrging 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 porter ran away
with canvas bag containing q large part
of Jacks wardrobe. In land where
caravans use great deal of cotton cloth
to pay their way there was of course
plenEy of material at hand to repair
Jacks loss, which he bore with more
euuanimity than the rest of his family.
Sometimes they travelled for hours
through grass that was high above their
heads, and in the early morning Jack
liked to listen to the dew drops as they
fell like rain upon the top of his palan-
ouin, while the carriers plodded along
through the luxuriant growth OF grass.
Many of the marches were very wesr-
some, and Mrs. Hone wrote that she and
Jack often presented very draggled
appearance when the halt was made for
the day.
The journey lasted ninety days. At
last the beautiful waters of Lake
ranganyika came into view, and little
Jack was delighted when his family
embarked in big boat for the long
Journey for the island of Kavals. He
thought the songs of the crew as they
bent to their oars were particularly jolly.
He is now living on Kavala island, and,
though he is the onl y little white boy in
Centra Africa, he seems to be thoroughly