Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-17


hut gave chase incontinently, and
rushed full pelt down the main street of
Tulami q. helter-skelter and devil-take-the-
hindlnost, in pursuit of my 10-year-old.
But 1 reckoned without my host. Chll-
dren on the Gaboon beat the record for the
qusrter-mile. was quite pumped out and
painting for breath before ran that girl to
earth at last, by her mothers door at the far
end of the village. A dozen or more of the
negroes, lettering about on their backs in
the dust OF the street. had Joined the hue
and cry with great gusto BY that time.
They didn't know, to be sure, what the fuss
was about, but given q white man-bestower
of rum and money-rushing in mad pursuit,
and a poor little frightened black girl
scampering away for dear life at the top Of
her speed, in abject bodily terror, and you
NAV confidently reckon on the chivalry of
the Gaboon to range itself automatically on
the side Of the stronger, and to drive the un-
happy small child hopelessly into very
corner.
THE CHASE.
When at last got up with the object of
my quest she was so alarmed and blown
with her headlong career that I telt thor
oughly ashamed Of myself. Even the pur-
suit of science, will frankly admit, hardly
justified me in so chivyIng that frightened
little mortal, ten negroes strong, through
the street of Tulamba. However, bright
English sixpence, a red silk pocket handker-
chief and the promise OF box OF European
sweets from the old half-csste Portuguese
traders shop in the village, soon restored
her confidence. Unhappily it did not re-
store that broken and draggled but priceless
orchid. In her headlong flight the child had
crumple it hopelessly up in her hand and
distorted 1t almost beyond the possibility Of
scientific recognition. All I could make
out with certainty was that the orchid be-
louged to a new and hitherto undescribed
species; that il was large and luminous and
extremely beautiful, and that ifonly could
succeed in securing plant OF it my name
was made as a scientific explorer.
The natives crowded around with disin-
terested advice and eyed the torn and
drapgled blossom curiously. SITS q moon
flower" they said in their own dialect
Every rare. Hard to get. Comes from the
deep shades In the great forest"
THE CAPTURE.
"How did you come BY it, my child7"
asked, coaxinglY. OF my sobbing 10-year-
old.
my father brought 1t in" the child an
swered with a burst "He gave il me
week ago. He was out in the country OF
LQe QWdEIs uOlhS hauOs A<o "Ous 'SA A'SAy
and he brought this back TO me-"
"Boys," I cried to the negroes who
crowded around looking on, do you know
where 1t llves7 / want to get one. A good
English rife to any man In Tulamba who
guides me TO the spot where can pick
live moon fowerP'
The men shook their heads and shrugged
their shoulders dubiously.
"Oh, no." they all answered, like supers
at the theater, with one accord. 'Too far
too dangerous p
"Why dangerous?" I cried, laughing.
"The moonfower won't bite you. Who
saws danger IN picking hower?"
NV head guide and hunter stood out from
the crowd, and looked across at me awe
struck. "Oh, excelleney," be said, in Q
hushed and frightened voice, "the moon
flower is rare; 1t Is very scarce; 1t grows
only in the dark forest OF the inner land
where the Ngina dwells. No man dare
pick it Tor fear of the Nglna."
"Ohop' said I. as that so, my friend?
Then I'm not astonished." For Nglns, as
no doubt you're already aware. Is the native
West African name for the gorilla.
TO Oct ANOTHER SPECIMEN.
Well. took home the poor draggled bios
som 10 my hat, dissected ID carefully and
made what scientific study was possible Of
it unhappy remain. in their much 'attered
condition. But for the next 10 days, as you
aid dream Of nothing but moon flowers.
Yoa can't think what fascination it exerts
on sN,aturalist explorers mind-a new or
child ike that. a. big around ss dessert
plata and marked by 70 extraordinary and