The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-12-11

perhaps consider that it would be scarcely
fair to expect me to know matters your
readers would be most interested in.
HAPPY AS AN HONEST LABoRER.
" | find it, them most convenient to
imagine you able to tell my friends much
that l should like to say to them. First of
all, | am in perfect health and feel like
laborer of a Saturday evening returning
home with his week 5 work done, his weeks
wages in his pocket and glad that tomorrow
is the Sabbath.
DUTY WAS NOT sHIRKED.
" Just about three years ago, while lee
turing in New England, message came
from under the sea bidding me to hasten
and take a commission to relieve Emin
Pacha at Wadelai; but, as people generally
do with faithful pack-horses, numbers of
little trifles, odds and ends are piled on over
and above the proper burden. Twenty va
rious little commissions were added to the
principal one, each requiring due care and
thought. Well looking back over what
has been accomplished, | see no reason for
any hearts discomfort. We can say we
shirked no task, and that good will, aided
by steady effort, enabled us to complete
every little Job as well as circumstances per-
mitted.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES.
cover and above the happy ending of
our appointed duties, we have not been UNI
fortunate in geographical discoveries. The
Aruwimi is now known from its source to
its bourne. The great Congo forest, cover
ing as large an area as France and the
Iberian Peninsula, we can now certify TO
he an absolute fact The Mountains of the
Moon this time, beyond the least doubt,
have been located, and Ruevenzori, The
Cloud King robed in eternal snow, has
been seen, its TANKS explored and some of
its shoulders assembled, Mounts Gordon
Bennett and Mackinnon cones being but
giant sentries warding OFF the approach to
the inner area of The Cloud King
OVER RANGE AND RANGE.
"On the southeast of the range the con-
nection between Albert Edward Nyanza
and the Albert Nyanza has been dis
covered, and the extent of the former lake
is now known for the first time. Range
after range of mountains have been trav-
tTStu, Stpdld ny SUN iIdNlS VI pdStuIt-
land as would make your cowboys ont West
mad with envy.
BLACKBERRIEs UNDER THE EQUATOR.
"And right under the burning Equator
we have fed on blackberries and bilberries
and quenched our thirst with crystal water
fresh from snow-beds. We have also been
able to add nearly six thousand square
,niIaa of yyatpr tn Victoria Nvauza
SPECIALISTS WILL HAVE MUCH TO SAY.
"Our naturalist will expatate upon the
new species of animals, birds and plants he
has discovered, Our surgeon will tell what
he knows of the climate and its amenities.
1t will require all we know to say what
new stores of knowledge have been gathered
from this unexpected field of discoveries.
always suspected that in the central regions
between the Equatorial lakes something
worth seeing would be found, but | was not
prepared for such harvest of new facts
HIS ENDS SHAPED BY PROVIDENCE.
"This has certainly been the most ex-
traordinary expedition l have ever led into
Africa. A veritabe divinity seems to have
hedged us while we journeyed. l say it
with all reverence. 1t has impelled us
whittier it would effected its own will but
nevertheless guided and protected us.
DREAD VISITATION.
"What can you make of this, for in
stance? On August II, 1887, all the officers
of the rear column are united at Yambuya
They have my letter of instructions be-
fore them, but instead of preparing for the
morrow's march, to follow our track, they
decide to wait at Yambuya, which decision
initiates the most awful season any commu-
nifty of men ever endured in Africa or else
where. The results are that three-quarters
of their force die of slow poison Their com
mander is murdered and the second officer
dies soon after Of sickness and grief.
Another officer is wasted to skeleton and
obliged to return home. A fourth is sent
to wander aimlessly up and down the
Congo, and the survivor is found in such a
fearful pesthole that we dare not describe
! its horrors.
DAYS OF FEARFUL ANXIETY.
On the same date, one hundred fifty