The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-11-15

terror in Three Separate Incursions
From a Point on the Eastern Coast of
Africa in search of Natural History
epeciuens-They Find Water That has
to be Diluted Before it Can be swallowed
and Their Thermometers Give up Their
Jobs in Despair.
Copyrighted by the Associated Press 1889
London, Nov 14-Prof. D. G. Elliott,
he leader of the Field Columbian Mu-
,eun of Chicago expedition, with Mr.. Z.
3. Akeby, the head of the taxidernnist
department. oe the museum, left Soutn-
lnltor today by the Sa. Louis, on their
'etl,rn t. America after most successful
expedition into somaliland, wither tney
vent in March last for the purpose Oh
making a natural history collection for
,he museum.
In conversation with a representative of
he Associated Press, Professor Elliott
laid:
I'VE left Beebera at hte nd Of April
With caravan consisting Of sixty-eight
men. all armed with Sniders and Win
ehesters. and fifty-six cameis. which
we're afterwards increased to ninety
sgnt Our intention was to explore dis
iricts of 'Somaliland between Beeroera
md the River Chibele.
THREE EXPEDITIONS.
During our stay in Africa we made
three distinct expeditions from the coast.
The first was to the east of Beerbera TO
The Gobari plains, and the range OF the
Coils. This journey inland, which was
undertaken expressly for the purpose or
getting wild asses, occupied three weeks.
'SThe second was to the south OF Beer
bera, via Mandera and ofabo Pass OF the
Coils range, to the south of the Togo
plain. This trip lasted six weeks and
was embarked upon because we wanted
10 get specimens of Swan and Harte-
best and Clarkes antelope, both OF wnlcA
are extremely rare of which very lew
specimens have ever come TO Europe
The third expedition lasted over two
months. This time we went from Beer
bera and crossed the Hand desert by a
route discovered by me over the Mareieh
plain TO a point twenty miles from Mil
hliL
Altogether we were in the interior six
months and returned to Alden at the be-
ginning of October.
A VILE COUNTRY.
Asked regarding the character OF the
country visited, the professor said:
- large portion of the district visited
by me was quite unknown TO Europeans.
ard certainly had never been traversed
by a naturalist before. The whole coun-
try was absolutely a waterless desert.
True, there was some kind of stuff with
which 10 assLage our thirst, but the only
water 10 be got is from pools left by the
rains or digging beneath the parched riV-
er beds. Buc the mixture procurable is
thick and yellow and Of the consistency
of pea soup. Even the pools are the re-
SORT Of cattle and sheep and thir condi-
ton may be better imagined than de-
sc-ibed. We had to. establish a guard
over every pool we reached to prevent it's
dtfiIeme3t, but often the water was SO
bad thst2even4ovr mules refused to drink
IT, Despite this and other difficulties
We managed 70 keep In good health.
AWED THE NATIVES.
i had no trouble with my caravan.
My head man was the most competent
IN Africa His name was Dualla Idris,
He had been eight years with Stanley
and had previously Travelled with Count
Teleki and DR.. Donald Smith,
Had you any trouble with the na-
tves?"
Ne; we were so well armed that we
wire never attacked. The organdan peo
pie were not friendly but they did not
proceed to hostile measures. One tribe
Of Midgans, armed with bows and poi
soned arrows, were Iooting and raiding
in our peighborhood but, although quite
close. they did not molest US.
Lad hx-,
son OF the Abyssinian raids that large
numbers OF natives Joined my caravan
for protection and followed in my wake
-'The Abyssinians, am happy to say,
we did not meet They were ahead OF
rs. raiding in the valleys. and We heard
rumors of their atrocities but fortunately
for US we did not come across them
THERMOMETERS GAVE IT UP.
The heat during our journey was al
most beyond endurance and often ]
thought we should succumb 10 apopleXy.
Such temperature have never encoun-
tered before Two medical thermome-
.ers registered their highest, 120 degrees
and there the mercury remained The
heat in these regions Is so intnse that
even natives, trying 70 cross the deser!
n the day time frequently succumb."
The nearest shave the expedition had
was in the case OF Mr. Akeley, who was
turiously attacked by a wounded leo.
gard. which was only vanQuished by Mr.
Akcley suffocating the beast by kneel-
Ing ON its lungs. Mr.. Akley had. how
ever. fourteen wounds on his arm and
Fight hand He got all right, though, in
! week"
Asked as to the result Of his expedi-
lion, Professor Elliott said:
Il have otherwise very large collec-
tion. chiefly OF the large mammals, prob
Ably the most complete ever brought out
Of any country by one party. No less
than fifty-eight cases and barrels were
shipped direct from Alden TO Chicago
where they viii arrive at the end Of No
vember- 1 obtained, moreover, over 800
specimens Of birds. fish, inspects and rep