The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-24

Interesting Experiences Among the
Tribes Around Lake Rudolf.
London Times.


London Times.
DR.. A. Donaldson Smith, the American ex-
plorer, lectured again this week at the
Royal Institution. describing his expedition
to the north OF Lake Rudolf and among the
Gallas. made with the object OF exploring
the country between the Somali coast and
the lake. both from a geographical and nat
ural history standpoint.
The expedition was an altogether private
undertaking. Its personnel consisted OF three
Europeans-Mr. Fred Gillet, Mr.. E. Dodson.
taxidermist, and DIR. Smith. with eighty So
malls. One hundred and ten camels were re-
quired TO carry the stores. OF the country
of Arusa Gallas nothing was hitherto known.
and the same might be said of the Borans,
except along the lines OF march OF the ltal-
ian explorers, Captain Bottego and Prince
Ruspol Bonga in Kaffa and the upper
course OF the River Ono were reached many
years ago from Abyssinia by NJ. dAbade
and NJ. Borelli. but below these points the
country was UNEMPLOYED as far as Lake
anie. From the lower end Of the lake the
line OF march passed again through unex-
plored territory until the Tana river was
reached, except at the Guasa Nyiro.
The expedition started from Berbera on
July 10, 1894. and on Sept. the party were
across the Shebele river. after having
terrible Calais should now have appeared.
but, instead OF lusty, warlike people, only
a few poor villages of one hundred huts
were found, the natives presenting the most
abJect appearance. Mastered by the Abys-
sinians, these poor people were only the
remnants Of great tribe. One could not
lind over 5000 souls among them now.
On Sept IL the Luku was reached, a place
OF some Importance as an agricultural CEN
ter. All this country, DR.. Smith said, was
most Of it used to be under cultivation be-
fore the Abyssinians killed of the greater
part of the inhabitants. What people are
left work hard TO pay the enormous taxes
demanded by their conquerors.
Some days march brought the party to a
place where they were astonished to dis
mr. of OF htrflf fao~c uar
there was evidence of a fair degree Of
civilization on every SIDE On one side was
an acre of ground inciosed by a high stone
wall having a curious arched gateway.
Crossing the Jub, the expedition came
among people called the Gerre Calais,
whose country extends one hundred miles
to the west They are an intelligent lot
OF people, very light colored and OF grace
full, slender figure Though many of them
nave no religion at all, Accommodation
Is fast taking hold among them.
The Boran country and people were next
met with, a people who were by far the
richest and most civilized and powerful
natives the lecturer had seen. They showed
themselves rather treacherous, however, as
one day, just after the party had made
their camp, between 1000 and 5000 war
riorS dashed down upon ii. Many of the
Borans were mounted on smart horses of a
superior breed. They succeeded in driving
be checked. AT one instant When a lot Of
horsemen were collecting near by prepara-
tory to charge, Or. Smith handed out
small shot, and ordered them to fire direct
ly at the horses. The effect was magical;
horses were thrown into a panic and the
charge broken up, and the Borans imme-
diately afterward sued for peace.
Another bit of excitement was expert
enced in connection with a large and war
like tribe called the Arbore. Without any
warning the party one day found them
selves surrounded by yelling, dancing
crowd throwing javelins and letting fly
their arrows. Like the Borans, they knew
haQ nj for ho
first time the whistling of the bullets and
the terrifying sound of, the firing, they
tribes would don their war paint and feath-
ers to receive the explorers, but a friendly
and at the same time confident demeanor
always carried the party through. The very
straight through country teeming with
hostile tribes seemed nothing less than
miraculous to the native mind.
After more than twelve months Jour-
neying, Lake Rudolf was reached on July
IA, 1885, A journey around the northern end
OF the lake; which DR.; Smith made by
little coEapsible Berthon bo1t, disclosed the
fact that the Nianann is 'the only river
emptying into the lake, and that there is
no river Bass, as supposed by Count Teleki
The lake did not appear like a long sheet
OF water lying In an abrupt cut or fissure
in the earths surface, as anticipated. On
the contrary, II was much spread out ex-
cept at its southern end. 1t lies in a.
shallow sort of basin, in an open country
The southern end of the lake marks the
rather abrupt termination of the great
mountain system extending north from
Mount Kenya- He found the lake to vary
I'm depth from two feet to twenty-five feet.
its elevation being ZOO feet above sea level
The party marched two hundred miles
down the lake, and had very severe time
DIR. Smith expressed himself as we'll
pleased with the results of the expedition
both from the geographical and natural
history points Of view. OF seven hundred
birds brought home twenty-four have been
described by Mr.. Bowdier Sharpe, of the
British Museum, as being new to science
and there are several new reptiles, besides
many mammals, butterflies and plants
which have not yet been completely classi-
fed.
Too lecture was illustrated by photo
graphs, thrown on a screen, of the country
and people, and a large collection of war