The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-14
EXCITING AFRICAN TRIP.
Prof Elliott Of Chicago, Returns From
an Interesting Journey of Ex-
ploration.
copyrighted by Associated Press.)


London. Nov. 14-Prof. D. G. Elliott,
the leader of the Field Columbian mu-
scum of Chicago expedition, with Mr. c.
E. Azeby, the head of the taxidermist
department of the museum left South
ampton today by the St. Louis. on their
return to America after most success
ful expedition into SomaliIand, whittier
thev went in March last for the purpose
of making a natural history collection for
the museum.
IN conversation with a representative Of
the Associated Press Prof Elliott said:
We left Berbar at the end of April with
a caravan, consisting of 6S men. all
armed with Sniders and Winchesters and
90 cameis, Whleh We're afterwards IN
creased to 9S. Our intention was to eX-
plore certain districts of Somaliland be-
tween beerpefa ana the river Shlpeie-
During our stay in Africa we made three
nrst was TO the east OF BeerDera 70 the
Gobari plains and the range of the Golise.
This journey inland which was undertake
en- expressly for the purpose of getting
wild asses, occupied three weeks.
"The second was to the south of Beer
of the Coils range to the south of the
Toyo Plain. This trip lasted six weeks
and was embarked upon because we
wanted to get specimens of hartebeest
and Clarke's antelOpes, 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 Beer
bera and crossed the Hand desert by a
route discovered by me over the Mared-
leh plain to a point twenty miles from
altogether we were in the interior six
months and returned to Alden at the be-
Asked regarding the character of the
country visited the professor said: "A
large portion of the districts visited by
me was quite unknown to Europeans, and
certainly had never been traVerSed by
naturalist before The whole country
was absolutely q WalerleSS 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
river beds. But the mixture procurable
IS thick and yellow or the consistency 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 stablish a guard over every
pool we reached to prevent its defilement,
but often the water was 50 bad that even
our mules refused to drink. Despite this
and other difficulties We managed to keep
in good health.
I had no trouble with my caravan. NY
head man was the most competent in
Africa. His name was Dualla Aidris. He
had previously Travelled with Count Telekt
and DR.. Donaldson Smith.
HAD you any trouble with the natives %
mo, we were so well armed that we
were never attacked. The Orgadan peo-
proceed to hostile measures. One tribe OF
Midgans, armed with bows and poisoned
arrows, were lOOting and raiding in our
neighborhood, but although quite close
they did not mOlest US
THE country was SO unsettled by rea-
son of the Abyssinian raids, that large
numbers of natives Joined my caravan for
protection and followed IN my wake
1.-THE Abyssinians. I am happy to say.
we did not meet They were ahead of US
raiding in the valleys. and we heard runs
ors of their atrocities. but fortunately for
US we did not come across them
The heat during our journey was al
most beyond endurance and often,
thought we should succumb to apOpleXy.
Such temperature 1 have never encOun-
tered before. Two medical thermometers
registered their highest, 120, and there the
mercury remained. The heat in these re-
gions is so intense that even natives try
ing to cross the desert in the day time
frequently Succumb.
s'The nearest shave the expedition had
was in the case of Mr.. Akely. who was
furiousIy attacked by a wounded leopard
which was only vanquished by Mr. Akely
literally suffocating the beast by kneeling
on his lungs. Mr.. Akely had, however.
fourteen wounds his arm and right
hand He got all right though in a
week
Asked as to the results of his expedi-
ton Prof. Elliott said. Il have other
wise a very large collection. chiefly of the
large animals probably the most com
plete ever brought out of any country by
one party No less than 5S cases and
barrels were shipped direct from Alden to
Chicago where they viii arrive at the end
of November. I obtained moreover over
800 specimens of birds, fish, insects and