River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-08-07
IN AN AFRICAN DESERT.
Terrible Experience of Deserted
Explorer. .

The colonial policy of Germany dates
back only a few years. but the master
hand which planned and executed the
sudden acquisition of vast tracts in
Africa and Australasia was busily pre-
pairing for years ahead. the astOnish-
ment of the colonial powers was com
plete at this unexpected stroke of a ma
ton which did not own square inch [
outside of its own frontiers, and which |
had always maintained that colonies
were a source of weakness to the |
mother country. The time was well !
chosen. England was having deal of
trouble with the Zulus, Beers and the
malcontents in Egypt, and France had
her hands full with wars in Tonquin
and Madagascar. These disturbances
facilitated the dealings with the African
tribes. and only when the German flag
was waving over some of the most de-
sirous tracts in Africa did the other
powers realize how they had been fore
stalled.
Out of party of twelve army officers
which left Germany In 1850 to explore
and navigate in Southern Africa only
three reached home in 1854. Several
were killed by wild animals and snake
bites, others were murdered by hostile
natives, others succumbed TO the climate
or persisted in the desert. OF the three
survivors the writer was one, though
there were times when he despaired of
seeing the sun rise again. Sometimes
at the mercy of bloOdthirsty, crazy
chiefs, sometimes robbed and deserted
by treacherous servants. sometimes ac-
cused as spies by English or Beers
death by violence. hunger or thirst
Iurked on every side, and escape seemed
impossible.
Four of us had explored and mapped
the west coast from Orange river to
Walfsch bay by the end of September,
1882. Our labors completed, we were
thinking of home, when we received or
ders to form two expeditions and start
eastward. One party was to go by way
of Lake Ngami, the other by LatakOo.
We drew lots for choice of route, and,
having won. Lieut.. V. R and chose
the northern course. We took five Hot
tentots as drivers of our eighteen span
of oxen, attached to a huge war, or
wagon, three riding horses, and twenty
head of cattle. We expected to load up
with good supply of ivory, skins and
ostrich plumes, and we were not mis-
taken. At cost of about 5000 worth of
cloth, knives. guns, beads, mirrors, etc,
we possessed ourselves of about 1000
worth of goods. We had to hurry for
ward. or else we could have augmented
this by our rifles.
After surveying the country and con-
vincing numerous tribes of the mighty
power of Germany, we left the Okawan-
go river in December and anticipated
little trouble in reaching the Trans
vaal We had hired four men of the
Balala tribe before leaving Lake Ngami
and were pushing ahead rapidly. My
companion was a little too imperious
and hot-tempered in his treatment of
our servants. Bold and fearless and
possessing great personal strength, he
relied on his authority and word of com
mand and used little diplomacy in his
dealings with them. For some days
they had been murmuring and one day
they broke out into open revolt Won
R knocked two of them down and as
they had no weapons they we're soon
brought into submission. We kept an
eye on them for a few days and took
turns at watching nights, but our threats
of death to any grum bier seemed to have
crushed them.
One night We we're encamped on the
western borders of the Kalahari Desert.
Won R and | were both awakened
from sound sleep by hearing a gun
fired. We jumped up and felt for our
rifies-they had been removed, just
then one of the Balala fellows cried out
in Dutch: "Get out of the UaGr and rum
The Others joined in and cried: Hunt
the brush, you dOgs-get out"
We sprang out of the wagon. and in
the light of the campfire we saw that
the rascally blacks had armed them
selves with our rifles and rcvolvers and
were aiming right at us. One of the
Hottentots could speak little English,
and. unknown to the others, ! tried TO
induce him to give me his rifle, prom
Using him unheard of riches, and
threatening a fearful revenge for this
robbery il he did not forsake his com-
rades. He answered: I'VE shoot you
who know Lieutenant Won R
was storming at the Others in Dutch, but
to no effect Unarmod we could do
nothing, and the rascals drove US out of
the camp. We lay down in the sand
about fifty yards away. and saw the rob
bers harness the draught oxen and start
off north wards at early dawn. As far as
they could see us they reviled US. AMI
ono big Balala fellow fred at us several
times, but without doing any damage.
We went back to the smoldering camp
fires and picked up some fragments of
charred meat-remnants of our supper.
In the heart of the desert without food,
water or weapons, there seemed but lit
tie chance for our lives. We resolved
to continue to travel eastward, and, as
our only hope lay in making the best OF
our present strength, we started at once.
After a few miles we came upon
veldt of yellow limestone. For three
hours or so ne scrambled over huge
powders bit the fearful heat Of the
sun was too much for US, and at noon we
we're forced to lie in the shade of some
high rocks, exhausted and painting. We
each had hunting-knife-poo weapons
If We came upon any beast Of prey,
After resting we pursued our way, some-
times crossing plains Of hard baked
clay. and then again marching over
tracts of limestone. At last we saw
trees ahead. and as the sun was
setting we came to q sandy plain whore
zame and mangaton melons grew in
abundance. Parched and nearly deli
rious with heat, thirst and hunger, we
tore up those godsends of the desert and
ate our fill Without those wonderful
productions of nature, cool. sweet and
Juicy we could hardly have lived an
other day.
That night We slept in a widespread
ing tree, and though the cries and roa-s
Of desert inhabitants echoed all around
US, we slept soundly and well. Next
day We loaded ourselves with melons
and continued the march. We spoke
but little-neither of US wanted TO dis
courage the other by the utterance Of
his thoughts. Tired. footsore and hot,
we reached at noon low range of hills. /
At the foot we found some inehie bulbs, (
and Toasted on them and some Of our
melons About five o'clock that after
noon we we're pushing our way over
rocky plain, dotted here and here with
clay beds on which grew tufts Of tall
grasses and veldt thorn bushes. Pass
ing around thorn bush We both cams
| % a sudden halt al the sight We saw.
a great yellow lion lay outstretehed Oh |