Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-12-23

''that Mrs. Cooper and mysels started
for Africa on our wedding "trip.
1--WE had only been married few
weeks when we set out from England
bound for the Congo regions, and we
were probably the first American couple
who made honeymoon trip to that re-
gion. l also intended TO do some trad
ing for skins and ivory.
"In December we had gone $50 miles
up the Congo, and were then in the
higher portion of the Lower Congo re-
gions, and, in fact. on the edge OF the
upper and less known region.
"Christmas Day found us among the
Umbasas, and having finished our trad
Ing with one village, we decided 10 start
that day for another village, where
had heard a number Of fine tigers had
been lately killed.
That wasn't a particularly enjoya-
BILE place. l had had no trouble with
any of the natives, but our path led
near region where, | had been warned,
there were cannibsl tribes, so that we
did not feel very vivacious when we
started away.
"Our party consisted OF about thirty
bearers, an interpreter, Mrs. Cooper and
myself and two trained elephants. On
one OF these elephants We rode. The
other elephant carried part OF our stock
and baggage, aid the bearers ran along
with the rest OF 1t.
"The start was made in the early
morning, and we travelled through a
fine country until about 9 o'clock, when
l ordered a dalt and we prepared to
make ready a Christmas dinner.
eve had selected fine, open spot In
a dry timber land, and quite near a
small stream. There was no turkey to
stuff, but what was really delicacy to
us was a loin Of elephant, which was to
take the place OF turkey.
"You don't fnd the recipe for cook
ing elephant 10 aDY cook book know
Of, ana it Is hardly likely anybody viii
REQUIRE it in New York this season, but
elephant is real good eating.
I'VE larded it with wild spices that
were to be had for the gathering. A
kind OF wild pepUsr grew about there
with leng fine leaves and wild sage was
plentiful.
"Then dug a two-foot hole in the
earth, filled it with wood and built a
hot fire. Then we scopned out the
ashes and built another big fire and let
it burn until the earth inside the hole
was calcined.
The elephant loiu was wrapped In
banana leaves and plantains and hung
inside the hole, over which boughs were
piled. In TWO hours we had tie finest
dish Of roast elephant you ever saw.
shoot the elephant% Ne, got IL at
the village we left that morning. The
loin is Jhe doest part.
CHRISTMAS MENU ON THE CONGO.
If the bill Of fare had been printed
IL would have read;
Roast Flllet Of Elephant
Dried HippopOtami Meat BrOiled Dried
HippopOtami meats.
Bananas. Butter Fruit.
Scraps OF Plum Pudding.
Hard Tack. Coffee.
mot much about that feast to remind
US OF the Christmas dinner in our own
Virginia home, was there?
"Nevertheless, elephant is much pref
cradle 10 some or the roast beef served
in New York. and as to hippopatamus
meat, it isn't the worst kind Of eating
after sll.
Mrs. Cooper wanted to try it broiled,
so We stuck some on bayonet and
broiled 1t the best we could over the
fire. II was al Improvement over the
cold dried stuff.
"Dii the natives know what day you
were celebratingT
awhile the elephant was roasting,
explained. through the ioterpreter.that
the day was called Christmas, because
Of q man named Christ who was born
on that day. Then / told them how
the day is celebrated By children aud
Aerown folks over fhs world, aud the
MI r. were fair story.
ASOme az them I'd been With Stan
4 "a ole AZ ~ "a axen seen EiR-