Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-08
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peen mkQe In IQe W oylu, py cAples uI Axbs
French Shsldons exploration OF tbs Won
derful crater Lake Chala, at the foot Of the
eastern slope Of Kilims -njsro. An sx.
plofer named New was the hrst Earopsan
to visit this African lake I'm ls7D, and
although he described the crater - exceed
ingly steep ard difficult of descent, be
managed 70 reach the edge Of the water.
He approached the lake from the north.
and described it a. triangular in shape.
surrounded with an slmosf uisr gular range
Of hills, rising shove the surface Of the
water to height Of from $50 to 800 feet.
Mr.. J. Thomson on his journey to Nasal
land, visited the lake and described its
attractions in glowing terms. He, however.
could md no Place BY which ii was possible
to descend
Ga learning BY telegraph that Mrs.. Shel-
don had succeeded in getting . pontoou
sfost on this lake the committee OF the
Royal Geographical Society Of London
asked her to send thu m scms notes Of her
experiences. Mrs. Sheldon's reply, dated
Tavefa, April &c. has just been recsi9ed.
In her letter she says that the adventure
was undertaken in company with Mf. Keith
Anstruther. who sems months before had
forced path down to the waters edge.
Mr.. AnstrutheR had two sections Of . pom
toon across which be proposed to place .
sort of raft or platform. With . number
Of portefs there the stte mpt was made.
Mrs. Sheldon went first. srd d, at c)nsider-
able risk. succeeded in forcing her way
threug the dense vegetation and loose
rocks. Scmenmss she sank to her aimp pits
into the IN sss Of deciyed vegetation which
had accumulated for sgss.
Multi.udes Of birds whirred about and
troops Of monkeys lesped frcm branch to
branch. Soon, however, she found herself
upon . 'rsgged, rough triangle Of tree
trunks and rocks" with the water lap2ing
her feet. Mr.. Ansthruther and the men
followed with pontoons, which we're locked
tos ether and set aflost. Mrs. Sheldon and
Mrs. Anstruther got on board and With he
grestest difficulty persuaded one Of their
supsYstitious men to accompany them Mrs.
Sheldon ard the men padded, while Mr..
Ansuuther "kept sharp lookout fer the
intrusive crocodiles. which were moot nu-
merous." Ducks Of three varieties rose in
startled focks from their T, sting plsces
The perpendicular rocks which come down
from the crest Of the volcano could bs seen
resching far down below the surface Of ihs
clear blue water. Above the water they
were densely ciAd with trees, tangled with
lianss ard alive with birds and monkeys.
Mrs Sheldon noticed q strange uoder-
current in the water that now and sgsin
caused waves to rise up and move forward
through the centre Of the otherwise tran
quill surface, yet the air was perfectly
calm. Mrs. Sheldon speaks Of 1.-The re
sistance or suction Of the water which wss
felt when the paddles were put two or
three feet beneath the surface This may
possibly be accounted for by the action set
up BY The water, which no doubt comes in
from beneath, for there is apparently no
supply from the outside. The sounding
line carried by Mrs. Sheldon ard Mr.. An.
stru.her did not reach the bottom of the
lake. The lake Mrs. Sheldon describes as
al unequal oblong, the water basin being
two miles broad by two and . half to three
miles in length. The circumference 10
about six miles.
This letter was discussed with much
interest at . meeting Of the Geographical
Society, and IL Mrs. Sheldon 10 we'll enough
when she reaches London she will be asked
tn give her experiences more in detail at
the public meeting 1t was hardly exec
ted when Mrg. Sheldon started on her (for
. woman) perilous journey 10 the Kilms-
Uo district that the would be able to add
sny,hing Of importance to existing geogra-
phical knowledge Of that region. But II
seems that she has been fortunate enough
to find out good deal about this particular
lake that has not been known before.
In another letter received by the same mail
to Mr.. Sheldon no mention was made OF
Mrs. Sheldon's illness. She says that her
health has been perfect, with the exception
Of an injury in one eye received in making
the descent to the shores Of Lake Chals.
That she Was, up to the time Of
wiring, able to stand the fatigue of
caravan life 10 evident from her state
M mt that cha had only been carried in
her palar quin fve hours during the jour
ney. Mf,. Sheldon said that with luck che
hoped to be able to reach the coast by the
goth of June, in lime to catch the steamer
Madura. This, Is has been told by cable,
| she succeeded in doing. The severe illness
with which she was prostfated just before
her departure was doubtless due 10 some
stack Of jungle fever and TO the eject OF
her long Journey. In the last lettef re-
ceived Mrs. Sheldon expressed herself a.
more than Satisfied wiih the success CT her
expedition, One very curious hing she
| mentions: The natives have no rsme for q
woman leader Of an exploring expedition
60 they named her Bwana Bebe, which lit
orally interpreted, means "master lady"
/ sm able, through the courtesy Of Mr..
Henry Wander Weyde, the American srtisi
and photographer in London, TO send to the
Wqrld the first photograph Of Mrs. Sheldon
taken in African travelling costume. Mr..
Wander Weyde supplied Mrs. Sheldon with
special apparatus for recording by Gamers
the various stages Of her journey and send
ing the negatives to him 10 be developed in
London. This picture Of Mrs. Sheldon was
taken lust before her start on the return
| journey from Kilims-nisro. 1t certainly
gives no indication Of her i'll health. By
the time this letter reaches the World Mrs.
Sheldon will have arrived at Naples. Some
Of her American friends In London expect
| to be there to meet her. Her story Of heI
expedition 10 looked forward to with much
interest by . multitude Of people interested
in Africsn affairs. Already her photo.
graphs By Wander Weyde are displayed in
the shop windows Of London, and II the
demand for them 10 any Indication Of tht
| interest taken in her expedition she will
meet with Q very cordial reception.
PArnNr-oFFIcH BusINHss.