The Afro-American advance., 1900-03-24

EFT me endeavor to describe the
camp and its surroundings. so that
the reader may become participator
in the thrilling events. and share in
Imagination the feelings of awe and
wonderment with which ! gazed upon
a scene such as few hunters have wit
messed. A clear. limpid stream, 70
wards wide, flowing over smooth
sandy bottom, between low banks COW
cred with reeds, ten to twelve feet in
height. On the right bank the reed
fringe, dense but narrow, separates the
stream from wiGe level terrace, cov-
cred with short grass, struggling bush.
and here and there a fine spreading in
cheuga tree. This terrace--which In
flood time is covered with water runs
back for a distance of 30 yards TO the
real food bank of The stream, 90 feet
above its present lesel. On the top and
edge of the bank under shelter of
huge inchenga, ny camp is pitched.
Forest trees surround il, and in the
branches of those nearest to the tent
are hung masks and skins dry or dry
ing, skulls and horns finding a rest
ing place in some trees at greater dis
tance from the tent, while on plat
form of logs, under grass thatch, is
pile of tusks. Beyond camp stretches
an extent of park-like forest. Across
the river there is no open bench be-
tween it and the food bank but broad
and almost impenetrable area of reeds.
growing on the sandy ridges and in the
intervening hollows, through which at
times branches of the stream flow
Above, on the opposite high bank, the
forest is excessively dense, full of low
thick jungle, and lacking the park-lile
appearance of the country on the
right bank. In the light of day the
yiewis color-scene of great brilliancy,
for IL is now nearly midsummer, and
the green reeds are in flower, the aca-
cias In blossom, and hung with sweet
scented balls of pink and gold flowers,
many of which give forth delicious
perfumes, are spread in clustering
spangles through the vivid green of
the young grass, or hung in festoons
OF color from the larger trees.
The forest itself Is a wealth of TO-
liage and color, to which my descrip-
tive powers cannot do iustic. Brilliant
butterflies fit from flower to flower.
while every now and then a black and
yellow swallow-tail darts through the
forest openings. skimming past the
tent into the forest beyond, and drag
on-fies of startling color dart on gauzy
wings among the reeds. Kingfshers
seek their food among the arehing
branches, sweet-voiced birds at morn
and evening court admiration. while
myriads of insects swell the murmur-
ing voices of these solitudes even in
the intense heat of MONDAY. But now
the sun has set in the glowing west.
and the Threatening thunder-clouds
have passed away; the troops of ths
monkey-people" have drunk their fiji
and sought their resting places among
the topmost boughs in the forest:
doves have cooed their evening lula
by, and franeolins uttered their CHEEKY
good night; the brief twilight is past.
and the moon is over all. hanging like
silver shield in sky of blue, stud
ded with stars. whose briIliancy the
dweller in northern ATTITUDES cannot
know. In the open IL is still as light
as day, but in the shadows is the dark
ness of night. II was a moonlight
night. such as might be experienced in
any other part OF the tropical zone.
and confirmation was vet required that
the scene was that of a hunters camp
Fia nf Co. an
m had finished the various little du-
ties which have to be attended to in
camp after the days sport Is over.
had cleaned my rifles, written up my
diary. and, having gmoked nv evening
half-pipe of tobacco. had turned into
my mosquito-net, both ends of the tent
remaining open. Perhaps there was less
talking among the BOYS that night-af
any rate the camp seemed quieter than
usual-and in half an hour was asleep
Suddenly | awoke. conscious that a
loud. hoarse sound like--yet unlike
that made by lion when seizin0 its
prey, was ringing In my ears. followed
by rush, crash and plaintive cry.
such as a buffalo calf utters when
deprived of its dam. ! sprang up in
my cot. listening. and saw a dark form
creeping toward the tent, and then
Dolambi, one of the carriers, crouchel
at the open doorway. ~ lion. master.
lion! IL has caught buffalo," he
whispered exeitedIy. We listened again
no longer could we hear the bIeatiug
cry. but twice or thrice cultural sounds
we're borne on the gentle wind. I
Jumped out. courtinR the attacks of
Inyriads of mosquitoes. which pierced
through and through my pajarnas. and.
taking refuge In the smoke Of the fires
With the awakened natives. listened In.
aenseiy. The sounds appeared to em-
anats from sp0t shout a mile MP the
riFer. and the boys said that a couple
~ Hens had sslzed a young buffalo
sas sf q troop Ia tie reeds, and. hav.