New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-08
AROUND AFRICA.
MR.. VINCENT SHOWS HOW EASILY 1T CAN
BE CIRCUMNAvIGATED

Illustrations.
Mr. Vincent is. II anything too conscientious
In reporting the results % his travels His prac-
tice evidently is to make a note Of every detail,
and he transfers the record without much ap-
breviation to his book. The product Of this per-
sistent attention resembles the old-fashioned
books Of travel. rather than those very recent
ones which ignore all prel'minaries and all the
interudes OF mere tourneying when there is moth
ing 10 see The extremely modern works OF this
class are 50 completely the result OF reflection
that they contain only meagre instruction TOT
q would-be traveller. They gain In this way
room for a variety Of topics which the old-tme
wanderer hardly thought Of. the natural features
of a country Its fora and fauna, It's geology. us
ethnology, its folklore Its international rela-
lions But they lose much OF practical value 10
the inexperienced person. who imagines the pos
sibity Of similar journeys on his own account.
There Is not much ethnoogy. except by indirec-
ton. In Mr. vincents book. and not single
folk-tale But his description Of the successive
stages Of his Journey makes 1t easy for the reader
20 see how he could perform the same Journey
without any additional guidance except such as
ne should find by the way Mr. Vincent traVeHeo
around the whole coast Of Africa. and he only
found one portion Of his route lacking IN steamer
service But his trip by land or across small
arms OF the sea, or up and down continental
rivers. gave him an acquaintance with great
variety OF native inventions in the way OF boats
and vehicles In Morocco the explorer mace up
a caravan with all the accomplishments OF horses
camels camel-drivers donkeys donkey-boys SOL
d,ers with matchocks. mules. mueteers and
cooks In Algeria and Tunis the French nave
made travel almost as convenient as II Is IN
Europe. On the Nile there were the fainiiar
sa:lboats which have figured so often under
every photographic disguise in books. MI VIM
cent has his way OF spelling the names OF
these boats He calls them "dahabeahs Be-
sides these the great river Of Egypt Is now well
furnished with steamers. 1t was not till NADIA
gascar was reached that the traveller hit upon
a really primitive means of travel Boats
manned by islanders gathered about the steamer
and the passenger went in one of them as near
the shore which was gutless Of pier or landing
stage as he could and was carried through the
shallow water to the firm land. Then he 1ound
himself In the city Of Tamatave where lie"
European merchants are surrounded by masses
of laughing chattering, indoent natives one
who goes about the streets Of this city at night |
Goes SO by the light Of lanterns. and II ne can
afford It. he is carried about. There are few |
horses in Madagascar. and no wheeled VehicIes
worthy OF mention. The roads in the interior are |
mere narrow paths. beaten down by ages OF
trampling but without a pretence OF levellng !
or grading. In many places they are impossible
even for a sure-footed mule. The only way Tor |
white man 10 get about is TO hire native bearers !
at about 81 month. who carry him IN man
xana This consists Of two slender poles strong
enough to bear mans weight framed togetner
with iron rods. On iron rods in the middle OF the
framework is fastened sort OF chair. below
which a foot-rest swings by cords. The bearers. i
four In number, trot at good gait all day long, |
changing at intervals with others who accom-
tho Eroc
the place Of wearied without a pause Mr.
Vincent found the flanzana very comfortable,
and no vehicle ever invented could be more con-
venient than 1t is for sightseeing. The rider
rarely has occasion TO notice where MS bearers
are going They know their way. and they press
onward persistently. and he can devote bis whole
attention to the changing scene through when
he passes.
In Zanzibar, which boasts cosmopolitan usages
as we'll as cosmopolitan population, the English
doecart is a favorite vehicle. Thanks TO the
ARABS horses are numerous. But In the narrow
crooked streets one goes afo)t. picking ones steps
at night by the light Of lamps suspended from
brackets on the walls Of the houses. In Baga-
moyo there was just carriage. the property
Of a Parsee merchant, and just road to drive
II upon Evidently the height Of courtesy in this
outpost Of the German Power was TO invite
stranger to drive in the carriage along the road
which skirts the bay. passes through large
cocoanut plantation and then between rows OF
mango trees TO French Catholic mission. The
carriage a victoria, has a coachman who Is
picturesque enough in a livery OF blue. faced
with glowing red In Mozambique the favorte
vehicle Is called a machilla 1t is simply an oo-
long cane-seated chair. lounge, swung by
ropes from long bamboo pole and covered by a
canvas awning. Instead Of sitting high above
the shoulders OF his bearers. as in Madagascar.
Mr. Vincent found himself in Mozambique swing
ing Just above the ground in half-recumbent
position. But he saw beautiful streets. thor
oughly un-Oriental In their cleanliness In Lo-
renzo MARQUEE he found a railway, which Is TO
be extended to the Boer capital Pretoria; In
Durham the modern japanese jinrikisha, usually
called a 'rickshaw" was regularly placed for
hire. Thence onward to Capetown means OF
iocomotion approached more and more closely TO
the standards OF civilization Cabs and double
decked streetcars in johannesburg whisked by
the famous Boer wagons with their long lines OF
oxen Boer drivers fond Of long teams. One
OF the most interesting rides which Mr.. Vincent
had In Africa was that by coach from Charles
town to Johannesburg. The coach was made In
Concord n. H.. but in Its native land 1t would
never have demanded eight mules and pair OF
horses In Natal and the Transvaal this seemed
II anything a meagre number Mules were only
used In the difficult parts Of the road on the
pleasanter stretches they were replaced by
horses 1t took two men TO drive this ten
horse team. Tho driver held two pairs of rens
the shorter pair attached 10 the bits OF the
wheelers the others stretching out 10 the leaders,
but branching 20 each morse In the team, Ills
sole task was 20 guide the animals, Beside him
sat the conductor. armed with whip. the bam-
boo handle 81 which was about twelve feet Ions
and the leather lash NJ least twenty feet The
welding Of this weapon. says Mr, Vincent. was
ian art which l Was never Tired ~ watching
The Beers viii hit any part ~ any animal Of the