The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-02-06

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f32TJI large game in Africa. AL
TIj though had been n resi-
NJ NZ dent of South Africa for
VIZ several years, my duties as
T$% mining engineer in the en-
ploy of the DeBeers Min
ing Company had taken up all my
time, with the exception of n few
"oG' days spent in the veldt country
OF the Trausvaal hunting African
gazello and their much larger cousins,
oryx. While L had managed on one
occasion to bring down two OF the
former diminutive creatures (but little
larger than au American jack -rabbitl,
/ was never able to get within rifle
shot of the wary oryX.
For q number of years n feeling OF
discomfort had been manifest among
the foreign or "Uitlander" population
of the Dutch republic, caused by tho
passage of obnoxious alien laws by
the Beers. This feeling finally re-
shifted In half-hearted instruction,
during which DIR. Jameson, of the
British army, made his since famous
raid into the Transvaal, which re-
suited in the death-o of somo fifty Bocrs
aud twice that number of English
soldiers. Although had always had
much sympathy for the original set
tiers OF the Transvaal, ny surround
angs at the time wero such that I was
forced to take part in the uprising,
and rs result was incarcerated in
the grim, one-story prison at Johan-
nesburg for several days. When,
through the influence of friends, /
was liberated, [ Mt first thought of
returning to the United States, but MS
mining engineers were then scarce in
South Africa, the company at last in
duced me to remain, agreeing to send
me out OF the Transvaal at once upon
prospecting tour into the wilds of
Central Africa.
Making up caravan of "kaila," as
1t is called there, for tho purpose of
penetrating the wilderness, is by no
means small undertaking. First
and foremost in importance is the
selection of competent and faithful
guides and attendants. l managed
to get together n party of twenty
composed of two white men tmyself
and an Englishman by the name of
wilson, who was to take direct charge
OF The kafila), twelve Matabeles, five
Katfirs, and an old Zulu. by name
Cen Liba (which I soon shortened
into Gam, who was said to he re-
markably expert in hunting large
game. He was n striking fellow.
several inches above six feet in
height, straight as an arrow, his
chest, back and limbs covered with
punches OF muscles as hard as bone.
de was a leopard-hunter by "profes-
sion, and for many years had made
business OF Kidding the country of
these troublesome pests.
We left johannesburg in the latter
part OF April, with instruction to pro-
coed by rail to Port Lorenzo, where
small coasting steamer had been
chartered TO take us TO the mouth Of
the Zambesi River, Mozambique. We
were to follow this stream inland for
about three bundred miles, then move
north to Lake Bnngweolo, latitude ten
degrees ten minutes south, thence
along the eastern border Of the Congo
Free State ten degrees, and then east
TO the coast, striking some OF the many
small trading posts between Cape
Delgado and Zanzibar, whence we
could embark for home. Ia addition
TO our arms, we had six clmels. TWEEN
~ dOnkeys, and twenty-six ponies.
also ono thousand five hundred mounds
OF gee" ono thousand five hundred
pounds Of rice, a largo assortment of
cOoking-pOts, water-casks, and con-
densers, and several hundred small
trinket5 for presents. In due time we
were aboard tho steamer, and after n
very rough journey 81 nearly n week g
duration, were landed "bag and bag
gage" upon tho barren shores of Mo-
zambique, mile north Of the Zam
best.
This is indeed n most desolate
country; tho Iambcsi aud it's hMs-a
broad ribbon Of silver and green. Dor
dered here and there by black cliffs
split the desert from cast 20 west. To
She north and east as far rs the eve
can reach stretches waste OF mesa
laud; sand, cactus, sand, black rock.
and more saud-sand that dnzzlea Che
eye ike snow, with hero and there a
cluster Of palms aud Jungle grass.
Hbich indicate where periodical
8sprIngs rise ont Of the blisterinz earth
greet Mother Zambesi. 70 tho east
BE- the ceaseless wash Of The quiet sea.
III its short reefs Of gray coral, shin.
ling whit, in the eternm sunshine. aud
oyer al dreary, deathliko stiffness,
jroken only when The deadly simeon
sweeps the sand in vhirling clouds
froW the north, burYing ell before It,
Looking westward oyo the dreary
fwaste % desert, one could hardly be.
2ieye That but q few hundred miles