The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-06-29
THROUGH AFRICAN BUSH.
Journey on Foot That Was Frought
with Many Dangers TO Life
and Limb.


From Oxford 20 Matabeleland is a
long distance, and from the life Of
college student 10 that OF surveyor
in South Africa a far cry. A recent
graduate Of the English university tells
in the New York Evening Post of a
dangerous and trying journey through
the bush. The party OF surveyors had
met with various misfortunes, the
greatest Of which was the slaughter OF
their cattle by lions. Only two were
left TO draw the cart. The travellers
had to journey by foot. In this fash
ion the party turned back toward their
starting place. Bulawayo.
Our provisions began to get low.
We ran successfully out OF jam, corn.
vegetables, coffee, sugar. and, what
was more serious, our ammunition be-
gan TO fail. and we were reduced to
two cartridges a day. It was not yet
hot enough to make 'biltong,' a dried
meat. which keeps gooo for an indefn-
ite time.
do you think you could steer a
straight course through the bush? the
captain asked me one day.
Il said thought SO.
"The captain snortei a little con
temptuously.
- want you to go there, he said.
pointing to a high range Of kopjes five
miles away. Plant a large flag on the
top Of the highest hill you can find.
II is to serve as the apex Of the tri-
angle we have been measuring. Start
early tomorrow and guide yourself by
the sun. allowing for its ascent and
declination.
Il started at dawn, carrying an ak.
and large roll of calico for the flag.
reached the kopjes shortly before
noon. and after climbing with difficulty
the great powders, saw a higher range
at the back On the top of this plant
ed the flag securely, and. after resting
a bit. started on my return with a
light heart.
Il had been walking for about three
hours when my first doubts assailed
me. 1t was growing dusk The kopjes
stood behind me. rows on rows. all
alike. There was no landmark to
guide me. I was lost
'T wandered about for more than
two hours The sun went down and
the moon came out To be lost in the
bush is a serious matter. Suddenly, in
the stiffness OF the night, / heard a
beautiful sound. like high note drawn
by a master on some old violin. It
might have been a mile away, and 1
rose and fell plaintively on the breeze.
1t was a lion, lifting up his voice by
pool.
q proceeded in the opposite direc-
ton. Luckily it was the right one,
and after a few miles came upon the
traces Of our last nights camp. fol-
lowed our wagon trail. and just as the
sun rose came upon my party.
''The captain met me with the in
formation that the ammunition was
gone. Later one Of us discovered a
cartridge in the bottom Of the cart and
brought down a duck That night we
had dinner for the last time in six
laws. Afterward we were reduced to
half a pound Of -four a day, which we
mixed into a Cruel and boiled.
"On the fourth day all our supplies
we're gone. The last two days are
hardly a memory to me. I remember
.rudging beside the cart. hearing the
tracking of the whip as the driver har-
sd the weary oxen over the weld. At
asst. on the sixth day, we saw the
houses Of the settlement in the mirage
wo feet above the level Of the plain. !