The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-03
A WOMAN In AFRICA.
MRS. FRENCH SHELDON'S STORY OF
HER ARDUoUS JOURNEY.

bhe Penetrated Countries Where tho
Face of White Woman Had Never
Been Scen-She Encountered Many Pc
cular Difficulties, but Was Successful.
One Of the most interesting addresses
made before the British association was
Mrs. French Sheldon's on her journey in
Africa, where she visited Mount Kilima-
Sjaro and Lake Tchala Mrs. Sheldon is
pest known as literary worker, and her
rip to the African wilderness was much of
lsurprise to all who knew her. Various
motives were ascribed to her which she had
aever for moment entertained. She made
40 profession of possessing scientific attri-
outes, and had no thought of geographical
exploration. Her plan was to study the
lative habits and customs free from the
influence of civilization and in their primi-
live condition. She started on her journey
without companionship or the assistance
If lieutenant, and not even with adoctor.
The expedition of 1870 men was personal
Iy directed, disciplined and led by herself.
Her English stewardess was taken serious
ly ill, and the expedition had to carry her
Tor three-fourths of the distance in most
dangerous condition. The majority of her
caravan party were unframed and unre.
liable and until she gained complete mas
terry over them there was disposition to
be rebellious. The hazard, however, was
taken with eyes open, and the responsible
~ was incurred in order that portion of
the country should he visited which was
solely inhabited by natives who had never
seen the faces of white men or women.
She received before starting many hints
from men like Mr.. Stanley and ether tray
elers. She had besides read most of the
books on the subject, and taking warning
from their mishaps, she tried to effect the
formation Of caravan free from liability
TO such dangers; but the time was short
and great haste had to be made
QUELLING MUTINoUs MEN.
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 after
ward muUinous, and gave her indescrba-
bic trouble
She 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 almost needed, more than human
aid. There was nothing left to her but to
gain absolute control over her men. This
could only be done by anapplication of the
rawhide whip. She often lay awake at
night trying to decide what would be the
best thing to do. Had she consulted her
own first impulses she would have shot
more than once every man in the caravan
She found, however, that a certain de-
gree of patience had to be cultivated, and
when punishment had to be meted out it
was necessary to wait patiently for the exc
cution Of orders This delay was one of
the most difficult things she had to contend
against, because Of her impatience to have
her orders executed. The hardships en-
tailed by the climate were also very great.
The rains had begun to fall, and when
marching she and her party were frequent
ly up to the armpits in water or half sunk
In Marshes
1t was interesting to observe that the
natives, instead Of taking to flight on the
approach of her party and deserting the
caravan paths, came down to meet her.
By some system of communication all the
tribes seemed to know of her approach,
and it afforded her no little amusement to
hear the native men and women describe
her in their own language as woman
master" They seemed not to be aGe to
comprehend the position of a womSn in
charge OF a caravan; but, instead of show
Ing her rudeness, the natives from one
coast to the other, on routes which passed
through savage and wild districts, showed
nothing but Difference and homage They
treated her in fact as il she were a poten-
tate.
AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT.
She frequently received as many as ten
oxen as mark of homage, and the chiefs
would send messengers and couriers ahead
In order to find out whether she intended
to pass through their territory, either 60
Ing or returning. But she went straight
ahead to Kilima-Njaro. Sometimes the
natives reconnoitered her approach and
held aloof. On these occasions she went
frankly toward them with extended hands
containing some bright, attractive Offering
as present. She went into Africa with
NAA NSiiSUNy oiA4 WOhlehAlllhCoot DuU QllUo
prepared to accept things as they were
there.
On one occasion q band of warriors ap-
peared at her camp in an entire state of
nudity. Next day, however, they reap
peared 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 serv-
Ices, which was very rare experience for
any one outside the tribe to enjoy.
On her return journey she met with an
unfortunate accident While being car
ried in palanquin across a swollen tor
rent the porters stumbled, and she was
thrown from height of thirty or forty
feet. She was dropped by her carriers a
second time, and injury to her spine was
the result,-Cor New York Tribune.