The sun., 1904-08-07
AFRICA'S CAVE DWELLERS.

Caverns Near Victoria Nyanza Whose
Origin ID shrouded in Mystery.
Major Powell Cotton Of the British ser
Woo has been taking fash light pictures
Of tho interior Of one Of the great inhabited
caves on tho slopes Of Mount Elgon, large
mountain near the northwest coast OF VIC
toria Nyanza, In central Africa.
The best OF his views shows number Of
reed huts that have been scattered irregu-
larly over tho wide floor, their tops extend
ing to within about three feet Of tho black
wall above them. Wicker baskets and other
utensils Of the household are sprinkled
hero and there, and large masses Of rock,
harder than most Of the stone that was
dug away to make the subterranean homo.
jut out into tho big room, filing II with
corners and reoesses.
His visit was to the east side Of tho noun
tain. All sides Of 1t have now been visited,
and the west, south and east slopes are found
to be dotted with these inhabited caves,
some Of which have been dug at an ele-
vation Of 1900 feet.
Perhaps no other mountain has Q similar
title to distinction. Its top, oven under the
tropical sun, nearly reaches the snow line,
and Its green sides arc indented with deep
pockets-the homes Of many hundreds OF
human beings.
Powell-C Cotton says there 10 no doubt that
tho whole inside surface Of these caves
was hewn by the hand Of man, but the pres
ent owners arc quite incapable Of having
executed 20 stupendous . task. They have
no tradition % to who the makers were.
Tho explorer thinks systematic exami-
nation Of . considerable number Of the
caves might throw an interesting light on
their original inhabitants.
Some Of tho visitors to Mount Elgcn
believe that they are natural caves. They
say they found no evidence that tho oaverns
could possibly be the work Of man.
They also report that years ago the
natives lived on the plain In ordinary VII
lages, using the caves at times a. places Of
refuge from their enemies, until they finally
made them their permanent abode.
Tho more scientific explorers, on tho
other hand say there Is no mistake about
the caves being OF artificial origin. Joseph
Thomson, who discovered them, said that
they were cut out Of compact volcanic
agglomerate, and he believed that they
were mines in some past age.
The works were evidently too vast to
be achieved by the simple savages who
now inhabit them, and he wondered what
superior race could formerly have occupied
that region. Sir Harry Johnston also
says that there is no possibility that the
caves could have been artificial.
These two explorers, as we'll as POWELL
Cotton, speak OF the interior OF the caves
as being very irregular, as the harder part
OF the rock has been left jutting out in
most inconvenient corners, while the softer
stone was cut away.
POWELL Cotton made an entirely new dig
covery, north Of Mount Elgon, Of tribe
living on the tops of two mountains In two
story houses. No huts Of the kind have
hitherto been reported among the bar
barous tribes of Africa.
1t Is possible that they conceived the
idea OF the two story house to provide
more room in their habitations, for as
they live on the tops Of mountains they
cannot give much space to their dwellings
without encro aching upon their titled
lands. Almost under the equator, they
succeed In raising crops on the very sum-
mits OF high mountains.