Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-03-22
By E. Vaughn Kirby

7 EFT me endeavor to describe the
Il camp and surroundings. so that
the reader may become participation
in the thrilling events. and share in
imagination the feelings of awe and
wonderment with which 1 gazed upon
scene such as few hunters have wit
messed. A clear, limpid stream, 20
yards wide, flowing over a smooth
sandy bottom. between low banks COW
cred with reeds. ten to twelve feet in
height. On the right bank the recG
fringe, dense bat narrow, separates the
stream from a wiGe level terrace, cov-
cred with short grass. struggling bush.
and here and there IL fine spreading in
chenga tree. This terrace-which in
flood time is covered with water-runs
back for a distance of so yards to the
real flood bank of the stream, 20 feet
above it's present level. On the top and
edge of the bank, under shelter of a
huge inchenga. NY camp is pitched.
Forest trees surround it, and in the
branches of those nearest to the tent
are hung masks and skins dry or dry
ing, skulls and horns finding rest
ing place in some trees at a greater dis
lance from the tent. while on plat
form of logs. under . grass thatch. is
pile of tusks. Beyond camp stretches
an extent of park-lkc forest. Across
the river there is no open bench be-
tween it and the flood bank but a broad
and almost impenetrable area of reeds,
Il
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-lil1e
appearance of the country on the
right bank. In the light of day the
viewis color-scene of great brilliancy.
for it 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 Il wealth of TO-
liage and color, to which my descrip-
tive powers cannot do justic. Brilliant
butterflies fit from flower to flower
while every now and then black and
yellow swallowtail darts through the
forest openings, skimming past the
tent into the forest beyond. and drag
on-fiies of startling color dart on gallzy
wings among the reeds. Ringfishers
seek their food among the arching
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 thu
''monkcy-people" have drunk their fill
and sought their resting places among
the topmost boughs in the forest;
doves have cooed their evening lula
by. and francolins uttered their CHEEKY
good night; the brief twilight is past.
and the moon is over all. hanging like
a silver shield in sky of blue, stud
ded with stars. whose brilliancy the
dweller in northern ATTITUDES cannot
know. In the open it is still as light
as day, but in the shadows is the dark
ness of night. Tt was moonlight
night. such as might be experienced in
any other part of the tropical zone
and confirmation was yet required that
the scene was that of a hunters camp
in the wilds of Africa. About o:3Op
IN. ] had finished the various little dr.
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 smoked my 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 nght-at
any rate the camp seemed qrieter thar
usual-and in half an hour was asleep
Suddenly | awoke. conscious that q
loud. hoarse sound lil>c-yet unlike
that made by a lion when selling its
prey. was ringing in my ears. followed
by rush, crash and paintive cry
such as buffalo calf utters when
deprived of its Cam. I sprang up il
my cot, listening. and saw dark forr
creeping toward the tent. and Their
Dolambi. ore of the carriers, crouchef