The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1893-05-19

with wave in MAD rush to reach the
depths, the whole snrgine, writhing,
liquid mass lands in weird com
fusion below, where it forms a huge
basin-shaped lagoon, which makes q
favorite habitat for tribes OF hippopot-
ami, crocoiiles and other amphibia.
But perhaps the grandcst AID most
romantic landscape scenery on the
continent of Africa south Of the equator
is to be found on the st. Johns river,
us the Umzimvubu is known from the
eastern border of Pondolana to the
sea. At the mouth of the ST. Johns,
were itdebouches into the Indinn ocean,
the view is notable obiectof interest
for all who IRE so fortunate as to trim
the coast near enough to observe its
outlines, and those who once view it
will scarcely fail torecognize its picture
afterward. Here lofty table-topped
mountain appears to have been cleft to
its base, leaving wedge shaped gap
through which the river flows to the
sea. The edges Of the gap near the
rivers mouth lie about 1000 feet apart
and gradually approach each other up-
til near the top Of the first reach, when
they are about 800 feet asunder. They
rise in abrupt forest-clad sleeps, and
from the edges on both sides Of the
river piateans extond until OF lfstgr
side other PERCEPTIONS cliffs rise and are
visible from ships decks leagues away
ut sea. This is known as the Gates OF
the st. Johns River Inside the
GATES" the river is broad, with scarce
ly a perceptible current, and the banks
are covered with forest trees and tam
gled underground of vegetation.
Owing to the abundance of water and
the constant supply OF fresh yegeta-
ton and succulent grass throughout
this portion of Pondoland it is natnrill-
" favorite resort for. wild game.
Nearly every variety of wild animals
peculiar to southern Africa--with the ex-
ception of the elephant found here
and consequently 1t is much frequent
ed by the class of hunters and sports
men who are not averse to roughing 1t,
for luxuries beyond what nature Affords
are unknown in this wild region.
1t was here that the writer had his
first full view of a wild African buffalo,
and he has ever since deyoutly prayed
that 1t might be the last. In company
with an Englishman named Phillips,
we landed from small coaster at the
mouth of the st. Johns, bent ON a ten
days hunt Phillips was familiar with
the country, and for two or three DAYS
we worked our way back from the
coast, meeting with good sport in
shooting small game. One afternoon
we spied n native hut in thicIsly
wooded copse, and entering itfound the
entire family, consisting of father.
mother, two grown-up daughters and q
son Of about 20 years, squatted around
a big wooden basin filled with an
odorous stew of buffalo meat and
green Indian corn. Phillips, who spoke
the Pondo dialect, soon placed us on
good terms with the household by pre-
senting the old native plug 81 tobac-
co and clay pipe. We soon learned
that herd of buffaloes had been seen
in theviciuity few hours before. and
the old man and his son had bagged
one. We were further assured that II
we chose to rest over night the entire
family would accompany us ona butfaz
10 hunt on the morrow.
Before daylight the next morning we
sailed forth in full force. and at sum
rise had reached the spot where the na-
tives had killed the buffalo the day be-
fore Here we found plain trail, ana
we stopped long enough 10 lay out 4
plan of campaign. The natives de-
ployed so us to act as sort Of slsirrnish
/ line Mhila phillina md Ila.....La -,