The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-11-18

cago-Three Distinct Expeditions Made
from the Coast Of Africa-No Trouble
with Natives-Mr. Akeby's Thrilling Ad-
venture with a Leopard.
London, Nov. 16-[ Copyrighted. 1896.
by the Associated Press. Professor D.
G. Elliott, the leader of the Field Co
lumbar museum of Chicago expedi-
ton. with c. +. Akeby, the head of the
taxidermist department of the muse
UNI, left Southampton Saturday on the
way to America, after a most success
full expedition into Somaliland, with
er they went in March last for the pur-
pose of making a natural history col
lection for the museum. In CONVERSE
ton with a representative of the Asso-
ciated Press, Professor Elliott said:
I'VE left Berbera at the end of April
with a caravan consisting of sixty
eight men, all armed with Sniders and
Winchesters, and fifty-six camels,
which were afterwards increased TO
ninety eight. Our intention was TO ex-
plore certain districts OF Somaliland,
between Berbera and the river Chebele.
During our stay in Africa we made
three distinct expeditions from the
coast. The first was TO the east of
Berbera, TO the Gobart plains, and the
range Of the Coils.
After Rare Antelope.
This journey inland, which was un-
dertaken expressly for the purpose of
getting wild asses, occupied three
weeks. The second was to the south
of Berbera, via Mandera, and the Jer-
alto pass of the Coils range, TO the
south of the Togo plain. This trip &C.
cupied six weeks, and was embarked
upon because we wanted to get speci-
mems of Swaine's haartebeest and
Clarke's antelope, both of which are
extremely rare, and of which very few
specimens have ever come TO Europe.
The third expedition lasted over two
months. This time we went from Ber-
bera and crossed the Hand desert by
route discovered by me over the Ma
redleh plain to point twenty miles
from Milmil. Altogether. we were In
the interior six months and returned to
Alden at the beginning Of October"
Asked regarding the character Of the
country visited, the professor said:
Country Unknown to Europeans.
"A large portion of the districts Wis
tied by me was quite unknown TO Eu-
ropeans. and certainly had never been
traversed by a naturalist before. The
whole country was absolutely a water
less desert. True, there was some
kind of stuff with which to assuage
our thirst, but the only water to be
got is from the pools left by the rains
or by digging beneath the parched riv
er beds. But the mixture procurable
&c nd ~ eicta
of pea soup. Even the pools are the
resort of cattle and sheep, and their
condition may be better imagined than
described. We had to establish a
guard over every pool we reached to
prevent it's defiement, but often the
water was so bad that even our mules
refused TO drink il. Despite this and
other difficulties, we managed to keep
in good health. / had no trouble with
my caravan. My head man was the
most competent in Africa. His name
was Dualn Idris He had been eight
years with Stanley, and had previous
ly travelled with Count Teleki and DR..
Donaldson Smith"
No Trouble with Natives.
Had you any trouble with the ma
tives?"
No; we were so we'll armed that we
were never attacked. The nearest
shave the expedition had was in the
case of Mr.. Akeby, who was furiously
attacked by wounded leopard. which
was only vanquished by Mr.. Akeby lit
orally suffocating the beast by kneel-
ing on his lungs. Mr. Akeby had, how
ever, fourteen wounds on his arm and
right hand. He was all right in a
week"
Asked as to the results of his ex-
petition. Professor Elliott said:
II have otherwise a very large COL
lection, chiefly OF the large mammals,
probably 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 will ar
rive at the end Of November. 1 OBJ
tanned. moreover. over 300 specimens
Of birds. fish, insects and reptiles"