The Forrest City herald., 1896-03-14
COLD WEATHER IN AFRICA.


Natives Are Sometimes Frozen to Death
in Some Parts of the Continent.
"In spite of all that has been written
ately about the Transvaal republic,
most people have an utterly mistaken
idea about it," said Albert Gerard
rhiers, the tenor, who is well acquaint-
ID with it, the other day. "Most peo-
ole, find, think that any spot in Africa
Is torrid and terrifically hot at all times,
whereas, in reality, many OF the nights,
md particularly in June, are very cold,
md it takes all the rugs and blankets
that one possesses to keep him warm.
Though the midday sun is almost as
warm as any summer day." the tenor
went on, lone needs to be well pro-
vided with covering if he proposes TO
pass the right on the veldt. To give
you some idea of the cold of the plains
1T night, may tell you that a few win
,ers ago several natives on their way to
the fields were frozen stiff on the road
from Pretoria to Potchefstrom.
Several of our party one day started
from Bloemfontein for Pretoria, where
the shooting was particularly good, talk
ing with us couple of boys to carry
our traps, which consisted of change
Of linen, or, rather, tiannels, a pair of
blankets each, the cooking utensils and
spare gun. We had for our compan-
ion young man whom we had met n
few days previous to our departure-a
young Scotchman, but lately arrived in
the country.
Starting about two o'clock in the
afternoon, we walked briskly, with oc-
:asional halts for coffee, until about ten
o'clock at night, when the moon shone
out in full, and we decided to turn in for
the night. The wind was already blow
ing pretty fresh, and we looked about
for a place in the veldt where the ant
hills were the thickest, so that we could
set fire to two Of them TO heat our ket-
ties and keep us warm during the biv'
ouac. After having a cup of coffee and
sitting around the fire until thoroughly
warmed, our party slipped off their
boots, and, putting them under our
heads for pillows, pulled our blankets
over our heads and feet and were soon
fast asleep, imagining, of course, the
Scotchman would do the same.
about two o'clock, when the night
was coldest, we were all awakened by
dreadful groaning, and, pulling our
heads from out our coverings, were as.
tonished to see Mac huddled up on the
ground, with nothing over him but a
rubber overcoat, shivering, chattering
- ,-,--- gaming piteously. The fire was
s,2%:-''An icy wind was sweeping around
the veldt. Good gracious, Mac, what's
the matter? Where are your blankets? p
we cried. 4 didn't bring any, chat
tered the unfortunate youth. Didn't
bring anyP Then what on earth was
that big bundle the Kaffir was carry
lngT That is my b--best clothes,
moaned the sufferer
"We were soon up and bundled the
poor fellow into our own blankets, and,
waking the boys, we made up roaring
Are and thawed him back to life. The
next day, on arriving at Winberg, you
should have seen Mac rushing into the
nearest store, and, regardless Of 'siller,
buy two Of the thickest blankets to be
1ad. This man had never slept before
outside Of four walls, and had fondly
imagined that In Africa he would need
40 covering. He made common mis-
take about African. Y, World.