The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-26
TRAVELS IN AFRICA
Experiences of Ludwig Ritter Won
Hohnell, a Famous Explorer.
Disasters That BefelI the Chanler EX-
peditiOn, of Which the Austrian
Was Member.
NO MEANS OF TRANSPORT
The Party's Animals Having Been
Killed by a Deadly Plague.
Long, Wearisome Search for Beasts of
Burden-Fight with Natives-VOn
HOhnell ''Tusked" by ''Rhino."

VIENNA, Feb. 20.-After an absence OF
nearly two years spent in exploring East
Africa, Lieut.. Ludwig Ritter Won Hohnell,
of the Austrian navy, has returned to
Vienna, and now resides within sight of
the big admiralty building in the Maxnin-
hahn Platz. Won Hohnell, arriving last
week at Fiume, was met by his old COM
rade explorer Count Samuel Telekl, who
accompanied him to Buda Pesth, where the
still open wound caused by the rhinoceros
horn was Immediately operated upon by
Professor Lumnitzer and great relief given.
Won Hohnell is now rapidly recovering his
health.
Won Hohnell is a Hungarian, born at
Pressburg in 1857. He was educated at
the naval academy in Fiume. He Joined
his first ship as midshipman In 1876, but
as his great desire to travel only found
It's partial relief in cruising about the Med
iterranean he gladly accepted Count Te-
lexis invitation to accompany his expe-
dition in 1885, which, after two years ex-
ploring, resulted In the discovery of lakes
Rudolf and Stefanie, in Northeast Africa.
Won Hohnell is a tall, stalwart-built Off
Ger, with determination stamped on every
feature His physique is hardened down
to whip-cord toughness through the ex-
cessive hardships of African travel and
his face Is tanned brown. He speaks the
English language with remarkable fluency
and a faint American accent. He possesses
a charming frankness of manner, wishes
strangers in his country to be as much at
ease he is himself, and does not seek
to conceal his pleasure with the English
speaking race
You wish me to tell you about the
Chanler expedition" remarked the eX-
I,;- 4 rfa-
lying heaped about him. "Well, we had
desperate ill-luck. 1t followed US every
where and, during the time I was with
Mr.. Chanler, rendered all best efforts
resutless. But let me start at the begin
ming of my narrative. l made Mr.. Chan
ler's acquaintance by means Of q letter
written to me from the base OF Kiima-
jaro in 1891 The same year I met Chanler
in Vienna, when he told me his intention
to explore the Borana country lying est-
ward OF Lake Rudolf. The district he be-
Heved TO be fertile and interesting. I ex
pressed my great willingness to accom-
pany him. We discussed the plans Of the
routes and determined to land at Lamu,
on the Zanzibar coast, sail up the Tana
river to Borat once called Hargazo, and
then strike northward through the Mount
Kenia district TO the Rudolf lake. After
thoroughly exploring the Borana country
in that neighborhood we were TO march
directly across TO Berbera, on the littoral
OF the Gulf of Alden.
SUCCESS AT FIRST.
'If ever success seemed to favor an ex-
pedition at the outset it was this one. We
started from Lamu on Sept. 16, 1892, with
1s5 men, all in good health. and in the
hest Of spirits. George Calvin, Mr.. Chan
ler's servant, also accompanied US We were
thoroughly organized. thanks to young
Chanler's marvellous administration. We had
cattle, donkeys and camels, and ten canoes,
laden with food, were accompanying our
caravan. The Tana route to Borau is n
very bad one The banks are lined with
thick jungle, and our progress was dread
fulIy SLOW NOV. 70 had arrived When we
reached Boratl, all well. Then came our Ill
luck. Our beasts of burden began to die
at Borati as If stricken with a pest. This
was a serious plight for US. We formed a
store camp here, inside the deserted palisade
erected some time previous by the British
East African Company Our caravan had
come to a dead halt from loss of transport.
Chanler and myself determined to proceed
nOrthWard to the GuaSSO-Njir0 river whose
source and outlet L had discovered in the
Teleki expedition. l knew that the Rendili,
a nomadic tribe possessing camels and don
keys in large numbers, lived near this river
on the northern side. George Calvin went
to the coast on a similar mission. Now, from
the date of our departure on Dec. o. 1892, to
the day the rhinoceros charged at me, Aug.
% 1893, we had explored without success
the entire district for transport beasts. -Four
years ago a cattle plague swept over the
whole of Northeast Africa, and, L assure
you, you may search for ten years where
we were without obtaining cattle.
1--WE wished on starting out to strike
northward of Borati over the plains, but
they We're sandy, stony, acacia,eovered and
absolutely devoid OF water. We had not
gone far ere we turned back TO Borati and
ascended the Tana rivers banks to the Mac
kenzie river, and from thence to the DIAM
L., IR,la 20
the Djambeni, 1900 feet high, its bracing
atmosphere, excellent for Europeans, is
thickly inhabited by the Embe, a very
in all. They raise in this plateau beans,
sweet potatoes, millet, etc. They possess
very few cattle. goats and sheep. They are
warlike, using spears, sings and poisoned
arrows. The poison is vegetable and weak,
unless when freshly made. The Embere re-
fused to sell us any cattle but they did not
moleSt US.
A BATTLE WITH NATIVES.
1--WE then struck the Guasso-Njiro. had
days Of weary wandering along Its banks
seeking for transport animals, expert
enced cruel hunger, and, finally, on Jan. "A,
after hopeless search again, with seventy
five men, set out for the Djambeni range
with the intention of once more crossing it
at the extremity looking towards the slopes
of Mount Kenia- Before struck the
Djambeni we had TO cross the country of
the Wa-Msara, tribe with the reputation
of having destroyed caravan ten years
previous. They numbered 1000 warriors, and
soon showed us their intentions. We fought
a battle with them throughout q whole
days march. They appeared and reap
peared at every nook and defile. We cut
our way through, however, and our Mann
lichers and Werndts must have created
heavy losses in the ranks Of the Wa-Msara.
ION our arrival at Borati on Feb. To- 1893,
found all the remaining beasts of bur-
den in our laager dead. 1t may have been
that the tZetch fly was the cause. Tn
fortunately, L cannot speak definitely upon
this important point, because until my ar
rival in wounded condition at Mombasa,
on the sea coast had never seen the fly
identified. Mr.. Newman there gave me four
specimens he had received from the Zam-
best. L have these with me now, but
amongst the myriadS OF flies buZZng about
our cattle at Borau ii is impossible for me
To recall from memory any exact resem-
blances OF these specimens Some boldly de-
clare that the tZetch fly has invaded these
districts through which Chanler and myself
alone have Travelled. but IL we are uncertain,
no one else can speak definitely.
"At Borau on March Q, 1893, we deter
mined. by throwing away great part Of
our goods. TO set out for Daitcho a place
forty-five miles northeast Of Mount Kenia.
We had obtained twelve head of cattle We