The herald., 1895-07-29
THE DARK CONTINENT
Interesting Letter from q Pasadenan Who Is
Now In South Africa

Now In South Africa
PASADENA. july 2s.-There are a
number Of we'll known Pasadena young
men in South Africa, and as others are
contemplating trip to that country, any
news from the boys already there will be
read with much interest.
DR.. Harry Macomber received yesterday
morning letter from his brother, King
Macomber. who is with Mr.. Burnha...
also from Pasadena. on an exploring ex-
pedition into the heart of the dark conti-
nent. The explorers are now getting
into hitherto unknown part of the con-
tinent, so far as the knowledge of any
white man goes, and the letters are
one is dated May 9th. and is written in
camp. hundreds of miles from the nearest
civilized settlements. The following
extracts will show something Of the ad-
ventures they are having:
II supposed long ago I'd written you
my last, but Mr.. Burnham has been OBJ
liged to send two natives back on foot to
Bulawayo. and l must send this by them.
We are now in a very unhealthful country
and are gradually coming to the worst
part of Africa for sickness and fever.
Three OF the natives have been taken
Gown already, but we hope to get them
through. This morning ate my first
meal for twenty-four hours The oxen
gave ou. between two places for water
and we were obliged to wait for our food
supplies. All the water we get is from
shallow. Shiny pools, and we are travel
ing fast through sand, brush and forest.
The natives we ara coming among now
are getting very cneeky, ana it looks as
II man would need good deal of sand
to take nine white men and forty or fifty
armed natives, whom you cannot depend
upon. 10 60 straight into such place.
We surely will have lively time getting
back over this road. as in five months
from now the water will have dried up,
and we are sure to have to go seventy
five miles through sandy country be-
tween drinks, and that will be tough.
"Chief Kama's men shot two giraffe
here last Sunday. l had tremendous
deadly mamba snake rise up right out of
chain of lightning. Jud knocked him
down with the shot gun, and he came for
him again. Jud shot him again, and We
ran like a streak. These snakes often
bite the natives. and once bitten 1t is
always sure death.
keys, pheasants, ETC., till you can't rest.
and my arm is sore. We have to keep
lion watch every night, as there are lots
of them here and they are terrors on bur-
ros. They frequently make their presence
known by roar, and their tracks arc as
uuAoTJuS db tuOSo VI tlcpudutS anu OS-
triches, which are very plentiful.
''We meet Pete Ingram fBurnham 8
side partner.) John Blick (who will be
more than surprised to see me, and an
other white man who is with them in
three or four days. We are going to cross
the Zambesi in our rubber pontoons, or
beds. which we sleep on in swamps.
When we want TO use them we blow them
up;;v
we're corkers. All one man, With a half
Aiioh around his waist. could do to pull
them out. One young fellow had his line
turned round him and the fish pulled
him into the water up to his knees before
he realized he had a bite. Baboons will
frequently dare you to come near them.
] was walking afoot some distance ahead
of the party the other day. with my boys,
whom | always have with me. when
something suddenly startled us by a
ty-five yards ahead OF us saw tremen-
dous ape with a club in his hand swing
ing it right and left. He was on the top
OF a steep cliff of ragged rocks. l watch.
ed him fer some time and finally thought
I'd take crack at HIM. | let fly and
knocked him off his perch and then
thought I'd go up and take look at him,
but learned that he would club mo to
death before could say knife if l went
up close. so | staid away. II is very dan
gerous to hunt alone here. 50 we always
take three or four natives with lis. Ii
you cross a fresh lion track or hear him
the boys always want to 60 back to
camp. A native wouldn't shoot at a lion
for his life; but l mean to bring a good
skin home with me.
"Burnham told me when I asked him
o question yesterday about positions here,
i wouldn't advise any young man to
come to Africa without plenty of money