The times., 1898-02-13
The CAVENDISH EXPEDITION.
Interesting Story of Exploration
in Africa

London. Feb I2.-THe most Interest,"
ing explorers narrative that has been
given 10 the public since Nansen's re-
turn from the north is H :. H. Caver-
dish's story Of his expedition through
SomaIiland and around Lake Rudolph.
.Cavendish. who is only twcnty-oDs
years old. left Berbera, on the south
shore Of the Gulf Of Aden. IN Septem-
Der. 1856, with Lieut.. Andrew and
eighty-four men, recruited at Alden.
The young explorer described their al
ventures in an address delivered On
Wednesday before the Royal Geo-
graphical Society.
He travelled south at first and 1t
Lingh came across capt. Fernandez.
an Italian officer. in command OF folt
which he had held. though frequently
attacked by the Abyssinians. fer
months after the Italian defeat further
north. The expedition then moved
west and soon found itself among that
section Of the Borean Gal!as which
gave DR.. Donaldson Smith SO much
trouble. These natives treated NJ.
Cavendish's party in the most friendly
way.
we found these people" said NJ.
Cayendish, undoubtedly the mcsy
friendly natives whom We met during
the whole expedition. They besoUgIt
US to stay with them. and when We re-
fused to do so they begged us 70 lay =
petition before the great chief Of the
English begging him to extend the pre-
lection 70 them which they said he had
offered TO Somalilaud. They brought
Us numbers of people who had been
r, Ill 5T~rc
and again begged Us 10 stay with and
protect them. AbeteTlatO. the BCreal
king, though We never passed nearer
TO him than 100 miles. hearing that
Engl;shmen were in his country. sent
his son 10 Us with a present Cf thirty
oxen and the best pony We saw in A.
TiCa.'
Moving in northwesterly direc-
tion, the expedition arrived at the
northern shore OF Lake Stefaine. and
after three days march the southern
extremity of the lake was reached.
Here Ny Cavendish was lucky enough
10 find perhaps the most useful thing
that has Yet been found in tropical At
rica. namely, coal. and coal in large
quantities. Near this point the young
explorer had a thrilling adventure
with an elephant He had wounded
the great beast. when il turned and
charged upon him. Mr.. Cayendish mar
rowly escaped being crushed to death.
On March % the caravan reached
the head of Lake Rudolph. where the
Rashiat people were first met. TIE
men Of this tribe wear no clothing eX-
cept piece Of skin down the hack,
While the women wear single piece OF
goatskin. When raided by the BoTsans
they fight with spears and poisoned
arrows. CavenGiSh decided to cross the
ONO, which flows into the northern
part of Lake Rudolph. and to traverse
the western shore Of the lake Lieut..
Andrew with the main caravan. going
down the eastern shore. Cavendish in
ascending the ONO. found himself
among a class of people called Murles.
q river tribe. who are a great fighting
power and enrich themselves at their
neighbnrs' expense. These natives have
not even an apology for clothes. but
so absolutely naked
Cavendish was told by the natives
that as soon as his party got into the
Turkana country. which wa~ To the
south, they would be attacked
Mr.. Cavendish crossed the neutral
territory. and On April H. 1897. arrived
at the foot Of Mount LubUr. wEieh he
ascended the next day. The party had
several fights with the Turkana. but
eventually Mr. Cavendish's men cap
tured woman whom they sent witt
friendly messages to the natives.
wheTeupon the latter rot only agreed To
let them pass through their country.
but provided them with guides. On az
irving at the south end of the lake, the
explorer was surprised to find that Te.
lexis active volcano had disappeared,
its place having heen taken by an ab-
solutely fiat plain of lava. but q new
crater had opened about three miles
due south.
Having rejoined Lieut.. Andrew, Mr..
Cavendish discovered an entirely new
sheet of water about thirty miles due
south Of Lake Rudolph.
From Lake Sugota a bse line was fol-
lowed for Lake Barrineo. and il was
here that the most serious difficulties
of the trip were experienced.
We had said Mr. Cavendish. "a
mutinous camp and two captured
guides. of whom we We're never quite
sure. and exceedingly little water
They did, however, get through tho
country, and eventually reached the
head of the Uganda Railway, where all
difficulties were at an end. the whole
caravan being sent down 20 Mombaza
by special train.