The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-25

COCK up ID tne lSianu, LOT lHS river Hdu
swept down SC much silt that the banks
extended for many miles out into the Allan
tic. The coast was hardly to be seen when
the first white curl of the breakers warned
us of our danger, and from there EDWARDS
we made our way very carefully under
mainsail and jib. keeping the broken water
well to the left as is indicated in the chart.
More than once her bottom touched the
sand 1--WE were drawing something under six
feet at the time), but we had always way
enough and luck enough to carry us
through. Finally the water Shoaled very
rapidly, but they had sent canoe from the
factory, and the Krooboy pilot brought us
within two hundred yards of the island.
Here we dropped our anchor, for the ges-
lures of the negro indicated that we could
not hope TO get any farther The blue of
the sea had changed to the brown of the
river, and even under the shelter of the
island the current was singing and swirling
round our bows. The stream appeared to be
in spate. for it was over the roots Of the
palm trees, aud everywhere upon its muddy,
greasy surface we could see logs of wood
and debris of all sorts which had been car
rico down by the food
When / had assured myself that we
swung securely at our nnoorings, 1 thought
~
place looked as if it reeked with fever The
heavy river, the muddy. shining banks, the
bright poisonous green of the jungle, the
moist steam in the air. they were all so
many danger signals to one who could read
them. 1 sent the long boat off, therefore,
with two large hogsheads, which would be
sufficient to last us until we made st. Paul
de Loanda. For my own part 1 took the
dingy and rowed for the island, for l could
see the union jack f1uttering above the
palms to mark the position of Armitage
e. Wilson'S trading station.
When l had cleared the grove could see
the place, long, low whitewashed build
ing, with a deep yeranda in front, and an
immense pile of palm-oil barrels heaped
upon either flank of it. A row of surf boats
and canoes lay along the beach, and sim
gle small jetty projected into the river.
Two men in white suits with red GUNNER
bunds round their waists were waiting upon
the end of it to receive me. One was a large
portly fellow with greyish beard. The
other was slender and tall. with pale,
pinched face which was half-concealed by
a great mushroom-shaped hat.
Every glad to see you." said the latter,
cordially. 81 am Walker, the agent of
Armtage & Wilson. Let me introduce DR..
often we see a private yacht in these
parts"
shes the Gamecock," I explained. I'm
owner and captain-MeIdrum is the name"
'Exploring?' he asked.
I'm a lepidopterist, a butterfy-catcher.
I've been doing the west coast from Sene-
gal downwards.'
Good sport?" asked the doctor, turning
a slow, yellow-shot eye upon me.
~ have forty cases full. We came in
here to water, and also to see what you
have in my line
These explanations and introductions had
filled up the time while my two Krooboys
were making the dngy fast. Then 1 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
Several is a rank Radical and am a good
stiff Unonist, and we talk home rule for
two solid hours every evening"
And drink qunine cocktails said the
doctor. We're both pretty well sailed
now. but our normal temperature was about
10S last year. 1 shouldn't, as an impartial
adviser recommend you to stay here very
long unless you are collecting bacilli as well
as butterflies. The mouth of the Ogowai
river will never develop into health re-
sort"
There is nothing finer than the way in
which these outlying pickets of civilization
distill a grim humor out of their desolate
situation, and turn snot only bold but a
laughing face upon the chances which their
lives may bring. Everywhere from Sierra
Leone downwards 1 had found the same
rocking swamps, the same isolated, fever
racked communities and the same bad
jokes There is something approaching to
the divine n that power of man to rise
above his conditions and to use his mind
Hcr the purpose of hooking at the miseries
of his body.
Dinner will be ready in about half an
hour, Captain Meldrum," said the doctor.
walker has gone in to(see about it; he's
the housekeeper this week. Meanwhile, IL
you like, We'll stroll round and I'll show
you the sights of the island"
The sun had already sunk beneath the
line of palm trees and the great arch of the
heaven above our head was like the in
side of huge shell, shimmering with dain-
who has not lived in a land where the
weight and heat of a napkin become intol-
cradle upon the knees can imagine the
blessed relief which the GOODNESS of evening
brings along with it. in this sweeter and
lurer air the doctor and / walked around
the little island, he pointing out the stores
and explaining the routine of his work
There's a certain romance about the
place" said he, in answer to some remark
of mine about the dizziness of their lives.
We are living here just upon the edge of
the great unknown. Up there" he contin-
ued, pointing TO the northeast, ''Du Chailu
penetrated and found the home of the 60
rilla. That is the Gaboon country--the land
OF the great apes. In this direction" point
ing TO tie southeast, no one has been very
far. The land which is drained by this
river is practically unknown to Europeans.
Every log which is carried past us by the
current has come from an undiscovered
country. I've often wished that 1 was a
better botanist when / have seen the sin
gular orchids and curious-looking plants
which have been cast up on the eastern end
OF the island
The place which the doctor indicated was
a sloping brown beach. freely Uttered with
the fotsam of the stream. At each end
was a curved point. like a little natural
treakwater. SO that small, shallow bay
was left between. This was full of floating
vegetation, with a single huge splintered
tree lying stranded in the middle of it, the