The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-09-25
WOMAN IN ARRInA.

derness. She says she made no profes.
sion of possessing scientific attributes,
and had no thought of geographical ex-
ploration. Her plan was to study the
native habits and customs free from the
influence of civilization and in the prim-
tive condition. She started on her jour
ney without companionship or the as
sistance of a lieutenant aud not even
with doctor. The expedition of 1870
men was personally directed, disciplined
and led by herself. Her English stew
ardess was taken seriously ILL., and the
expedition had to carry her for three
fourths of the distance in a most danger
Gus condition. The majority of her car
avan party were unframed and unrelia-
BILE, and until she gained complete mas
terry over them there was a disposition
to be rebellious. The hazard, however,
was taken with eyes open, and the re-
sponsibility was incurred in order that a
portion of the country should be visited
which was solely inhabited by natives
who had never seen the face of white
men or women. She ieceived before
starting many hints from men like Mr..
Stanley and other travellers. She had
besides read most of the books on the
subject, and, taking warning from their
mishaps, she tried to effect the forma-
ton of caravan free from liability to
such dangers; but the time YVES short
and great haste had to be made. The
start was made from Zanzibar. But
there she had great difficulty in securing
suitable men. The Sultan personally as
sisted her, however, and at length the
quota was made up. The men were af-
terward mutipOus and gave her indie
scribable trouble.
The had expected hardships, but she
did not expect to have, day after day, in
the solitude of the desert, to contend
with new difficulties which arose and to
overcome which needed almost more
than human aid. There was nothing
left to her but to gain absolute control
over her men. This could only be done
by an application of the raw-hide whip.
She often lay awake at night trying to
decide what would be the best thing to
do. Had she consulted her own first i'm
pulse she would have shot more than
once every man in The caravan. She
found, however, that certain degree of
patience had to he cultivated, and when
punishment had to be melted out il was
necessary to wait patiently for the exc
cution of orders. This delay was one of
the most difficult things she had to con-
tend against, because OF her Impotence
to have her orders executed. The hard
ships entailed by the climate were also
very great. The rains had begun to fall
and when marching she and her party
were frequently up to the armpits in
water or half sunk in marshes.
1t was. interesting to observe that the
natives, instead Of taking to fight at the
approach of her party and deserving the
caravan paths, came down to meet her
By some system of communication all
the tribes seemed to know eof her ap-
proach, and it afforded her no little
amusement to hear the native men and
guage as woman master" They
seemed not to he able to comprehend
the position of woman in charge OF
caravan; but instead Of showing her
rudeness, the natives from one coast to
the other, on routes which passed
through savage and wild districts,
showed nothing but Difference and hon.
age. They treated Aor, in fact, as il she
were a potentate. She frequently re-
ccived as many as ton oxen as mark Of
homage, and the chiefs would send mes
sages and couriegs ahead IA order to find
out whether she intended TO pass
through their territory either going or
returning. Blu. she went straight ahead
to Kilima-NjaGo. Sometimes the ma
tives reconnoitlod her approach anu
held aloof. On chose occasions she
went frankly toward them with extended
hands containing some bright attractive
offering as present. She went into At
RIGA witiFall deiioacy and womanllness,
but quito prepared 10 accept things as
they were there. On one occasion
band of warriors appeared before her
camp in an entire state of nudity. Next
day, however, they reappeared clothed
as her own followers were, thereby
showing that they had OWNED that their
original state was distasteful to her.
She had been invited by both the men
and women of tribes to attend their
marriage feasts, dances and funeral ser
vices, which was very rare experience
for any one outside the tribe to enjoy.
On April 26th, she started with por-
ton of her caravan to visit Lake Chala,
near Kilima-Niaro. Descent to the lake
could only be obtained by sliding down
the rocks, crawling over PROSTATE trees,
forcing a way through primitive forests
and swinging from tree to tree like
monkeys. When she reached the bot
tom of the cliffs surrounding the lake,
she thought that it was the most sacred
looking place she had ever seen. Owing
to the over-hanging cliffs and the strange
murmur of the water the situation was
weird in the extreme. She felt herself
to be in state of tremor, and marveled
at the curious aspect of the waves on the
face of the lake. She also puzzled very