The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-10
In AN AFRICAN DESERT.
TERRIBLE ExPERIEyCE OF A DE-
SERTED EXPLORER.
An Experience with Wild Beasts which
VIII Never Be Forg often by the surviv-
ing gParticipant-Hunger Adds rerrors.

The colonial policy of Germany dates
back only 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 ma
ton which did not own square inch
outside of its own frontiers, and which
had always maintained that colonies
were source OF weakness to the
mother country. The time was well
chosen. England was having deal of
trouble with the Zulus, Doors 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 a party of twelve army officers
which left Germany in 1850 to explore
and navigate in Southern Africa only
were killed by wild animals and snake
bites, others were murdered by hostile
natives, others succumbed to the climate
or perished in tho desert. OF the three
survivors tho writer was one, though
thore were times when he despaired Of
seeing tho sun rise again. Sometimes
at tho mercy of bloodthirsty, crazy
chiefs, sometimes robbed and deserted
by treacherous servants, sometimes ac-
cused as spies by English or Boers-
death by violence, hunger or thirst
lurked on every side, and escape seemed
impossible
-Four Of us had explored and mapped
the west coast from Orange river to
Walflsch bay by the end of Septembsr,
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
tho northern course. We took five Hot
tentots as drivers Of our eighteen span
of oxen, attached to huge vaar, 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 wero not mis-
taken. At cost Of about 5000 worth Of
cloth, knives, guns, beads, mirrors, ETC.,
we possessed ourselves of about S11, 900
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 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 were soon
brought into submission. We kept an
eye on them for few days and took
turns at watching nights, but our threats
OF death to any grumbler seemed to have
crushed them.
One night we were encamped on the
western borders of the Kalahari Desert.
Won R and were both awakened
from a sound sleep by hearing a gun
fred. We jumped up and felt for our
rifes-they had been removed just
then one OF the Balala fellows cried out
in Dutch: "Get out Of the radr and runw
Tho others joined in and cried: "Hunt
tho brush, you dogs-get out"
We sprang out Of tho wagon, and in
tho light of tho campfire we saw that
the rascally blacks had armed them-
selves with our rifles and revolvers and
were aiming right at us. One OF tho
Hottentots could speak little English,
and, unknown to the others, tried to
induce him to give me his rifle, prom
ising him unheard OF riches, and
threatening fearful revenge for this
robbery IL no did not forsa1e 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. Unarmed We could do
nothing, and the rascals drove - 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
of northwards at early dawn. AS far as
they could see us they reviled us, and
one big Balala fellow fred at US several
times, but without doing any damage
We went back to the smoldcring camp
fires and picked up some fragments Of
cnarrou meat-rcmnants OF our suppC..
In tho heart OF the desert without food,
wateF or weapons, there seemed but lit
tlo chance for our lives We resolved
TO continue TO travel eastward, and, as
our only hope lay in making tho best Of
our present strength, we started at once.
After few miles we came upon n
veldt of yellow limestone. For three
aours or so we scrambled over huge
eowlders, but tho fearful heat OF the
sun was too much for US, and at noon we
were forced To lio in tho shade of some