The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-16
AMPHrBIous MAN FOUND.
Opening of Uganda Railroad Through Heart of Equatorial Africa Un-
 earths Many Novelties.

Mombasa Letter by IT. Wellington
 Coutts.
 tween this point and Uganda. at the northwestern point of the Victoria Ny anza.
 This means that British enterprise has built nearly 60 miles of track through almost impenetrable jungle and at a point where the effects of the heat are terrific as they will be on the isthmian canal which the United, States is. plan hing to build.
 the African continent within few hours reach of the great highway of trafic between the Cape and India, and the traveller in search of excitement may witness from the observation car of a Uganda railroad train the most extra ordinary sights ever witnessed from such a point of view.
 One who has just reached hcNe after a visit to the interior states that the peaceably disposed passenger lying in his sleeper is surprised by hearing all kinds of weird cries during the night, which vary from the chatter of the humble but disturbed monkey. to the threatening roar of the lord of the forest, who must already be reading his fate in the hand writing on the wall of the sportsmans s special car.
 In one stream crossed by the railroad a group of hippotami was seen, whilst elephants seem to be common all along the route. An argument between one of these huge brutes and the engineer re- gently almost ended in the derailng of @ train.
 The sc canning of the awakened and Frightened monkeys is one of the most disagreeable features of the trip. The resemblance between the monkeys and the natives is said to be so marked in some parts that they are often mistaken for each other.
 The most startling piece of informa- tion developed from the new route, how ever. is to the effect that a large un- derground lake has been discovered near the equator and that in It's vicinity is found a race of amphibia which unites the characteristics of both monkey and man. The strange creatures are SO shy and have such unusual facilities for hiding that 1t has thus far been impos- sble to capture any or to make any re- port of value on the matter. These pe- culiar creatures are said by some of the natives to have their homes in the forks of the trees and by others in subter- ranean caves along the shores of the lake. They are as wild and savage as oFangoutangs and the natives avoid all contact with them as far as possible. as they are believed to be cannlbals. > The route of the Uganda Railway lies through the countries inhabited by many cannibal tribes. Among these people it is common thing i3 the villages to find butchers shops mainly stocked with hu- man flesh, which varies in price accord ing to age, sex and color.
 At present the steam engines propeli- ing the trains are objects of terror to the natives. but when familiarity has bred contempt it Is thought that they may attempt raids on the trains In order to obtain material for their meat mar kets. This reversing of the joke would be felt keenfy by those sportsmen wno come out to Africa with the intention of shooting lions or big game and occasion ally potting a native by way of diver sion.
 During the building of the line the workmen were constantly being annoyed by the disappearance of their tools. They were pretty sure that the natives did not take them and, at first suspicion fast ened upon the monkeys, which have a habit of initiating everything they see done.
 their tools had been spirited away by evil spirits which had their residence In the rivers near by. The tools are sup posed, by those who have heard the mems stories. to have been taken by the peculiar amphibia previously alluded to.
 Anthropologists and ethnogolists have always believed that the link between monkey and man would be found in Africa. Their amphibia seems to be- not only that, but also q link between land and water. The lake referred to has not yet been explored. but the cativts believe if runs into a great sea which fills the interior of the earths crust.
 T hope said the official who gave