The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-25


camecoek ND 10 the island, for The river
had swent down so much silt that the
1.a,l,s extended for many miles out into
the Atlantic The coast was hardiy 10
he seen when The first white curl OF the
breakers warned US OF our danger ana
from there EDWARDS we made our way
very carefully under mainsai ana Ho'
keeping the broken water well to the leIt'
as is indicated in the chart. More thah
once her bottom touched the sand eve
were drawing something under six feet
at the tjme) but we had always way
enough and luck enough to carry US
through. Finally, the water shoaied very
RAPIDLY. but they had sent a canoe from
the factory. and the Krooboy plot brought
rs within two hundred yards OF The IS
land. Here were dropped our anchor
for the gestures of the negro indicated
that we could not hope to get any Iur-
Their. The blue of the sea had changed
10 the brown of the river, and even I'M
der the shelter of the island the cur
rent was singing and swirling round our
bows. The stream appeared to be In spate'
for il was over the roots OF the pam
trees and everywhere upon its muddy
greasy surface we could see logs
Of wood and debris of all sorts which
had been carried down by the flood
When | had assured myself that we
swung securely at our mornings, 1 thought
It best 20 begin watering at once, Tor
the place looked as if it reeked with fever.
The heavy river the muddy shining banks
nf
Pile the moist steam in the air, they were
an so many danger signals to one VINO
could read them. I sent the long boat
off therefore with two large hogsheads,
which would be sufficient to last us upSn
we made st. Paul de Loanda. For my own
part l took the dingy and rowed for the
island. for l could see the Union Jack
huttering above the palms to mark the
position of Armitage and WILSON'S trad
ing station.
When / had cleared the grove could
see the place, a long, low, whlteWashed
building with a deep veranda in 'front.'
and an irnemnse pile of palm oil barrels
heaped upon either flank of it. row of
surf boats and canoes lay along the
beach, and a single small jetty projected
into the river. Two men in white suits
with red cummerbunds round their waists
We're waiting upon the end of i to receive
me One was a large pOrtly fellow with a
greyish beard The other was slender and
tell, with a pale pinched face which was
half-concealed by great mushroom
shaped hat.
Every glad to see you" said the latter
cordially II am Walker. the agent of
Armitage and Wilson. Let me introduce
DR.. Several of the same company. 1t is
not often we see private yacht in these
partsn
shes the Gamecock," I explained. I'm
owner and captian-Meldrum is the name.
"Exporing?" he asked.
I'm a gepidopterist. a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
I've been doing the west coast from Sene-
gal downwards.
GOOD sport?" asked the doctor. turning
slow yellow-shot eye upon me.
II have forty cases full. We came In
here TO water, and also to see what you
have Ia my line"
These introductions and explanations had
flied up the time whilst my two Krooboys
were making the dingy fast Then l walked
down the jetty with one of my new ac-
quaintances upon either side, each plying
me with questions, for they had seen no
white man for months:
what do we do?" said the doctor. when
had begun asking questions In my turn.
Our business keeps us pretty busy, and
In our leisure time we talk politics"
Yes, by the special mercy of Providence
stiff Unionist. and we talk home rule for
two solid hours every evening"
And drink quinine cocktails said the
doctor. We're both pretty well sailed
now, but our normal temperature was
about 103 last year. / shouldn't as i'm
partial adviser, recommend you TO stay
here very long unless you are collecting
baeii as wen as butterflies. The mouth
Of the Ogowai river will never develop into
a health resort"
which these outlying pickets of civiIza-
ton disiil a grim humour out of their des-
olate situation, and turn not only bold,
but a laughing face upon the chances
which their lives may bring. Everywhere
from Sierra Leone downwards / had found
the same reeking swamps. the same iso-
lated fever-racked communities and the
same bad Jokes. There is something APP
preaching to the divine in that power OF
man to rise above his conditions and tc
use his mind for the purpose of hooking al
the miseries of his body.
Dinner win be ready in about haitian
hour, Capt. Meldrum," said the doctor
walker has gone in to see about Ii; he's
the housekeeper this week. Meanwhile ii
you like, Wen stroll round and IN show
you the sights Of the island"
The sun had already sunk beneath the
line Of palm trees and the great arch of tht
heaven above our head was like the insid,
of huge shell, shimmering with dainty
p1nks ana dellcate lrideSeence. NO one WHIT
has not lived in a land where the weigh
and heat of a napkin become intolerabl,
upon the knees can imagine the blessed
relief which the GOODNESS of evening bring
along with it. In this sweeter and purer All
the doctor and ! walked round the littl
island, he pointing out the stores and ex
planning the routine of his work
There's certain romance about tn
place" said he, in answer TO some re
mark of mine about the dizziness of thei
lives. I'VE are living here just upon tn
edge of the great unknown. Up there" h
continued, pointing to the northeast, ID
Chaiilu penetrated. and found the home o
the gorilla. That is the Gaboon country
the land Of the great apes. In this direc
tion,' pointing to the southeast, mo on
has been very far. The land which Is drain
ed by this river is practically unknown /
Europeans. Every log which Is carrie
past us by the current has come from a
undiscovered country. I've often wishe,
that / was a better botanist when I hav