The Washington herald., 1907-09-15

pot Of crystal water from one Of the
many springs which sent up the steamy
mists which had appeared so cloud-like
from the ridge, We drank, ate from our
canned goods. and lay down that night
10 sleep. 1 think / must have dOZed
with both eyes open, but l was not much
frightened. because my guides name In
the Kaftir tongue meant, He sleeps with
one eye OPEN
"The next day the natives gathered
around US and a headsman asked for my
revolver. I refused. Then 1 asked II I
could remain with them and study their
habits. promising him some gunp0wder
and bullets. He agreed.
I explored the caves. the natives hid
ing IN Jle dark corners Of them when l
entered the holes leading down into their
abodcs The guide stood guard above me.
"I found the cave dwellings were six
feet under ground. with steps leading
down from the entrance hole, which was
about foot square. and used also to let
out the smoke Of their cooking fires. IN
the caves were mats. or which they slept
l found crude implements OF stone and
clay.
Moon Reveals the Queen.
But wherever I went" continued Mr.
Godfrey, "the baboon queen watched
She made savage attacks on US. She
thought We had gained undue influence
over her headsmen and would take her
kingdom away, so the guide said
That night I lay doing toward mid
night, when a sense of danger stole over
me. I woke and peered through the half
moon darkness. A figure was moving
from tree 10 tree toward me- It was the
babOOn woman. In her hand was stone
knife. I pressed the guides side. and
he woke.
Il knew that neither Of us dared
wrestle with her for possession OF the
knife. because she was sinewy and Irob-
ably as strong as a tiger So we lay per
fectly still until she came almost vithin
leaping distance. Then jumped up and
fred-not to kill. but TO disable-and the
bullet made a flesh wound in the calf Of
her leg
The baboon woman gave a loud howl
OF pain. pressed her fingers tc the wound
and then pointed across the desert. she
means 60 said the guide We disap-
peared Immediately.
"On the way back the old man sue
cumbed 20 weariness. I buried him in
the sand. while the vultures swarmed
overhead waiting for me TO leave Then
after day and DAYS of hardshlps, I reach
ed the mountain crest. crawling part OF
the way. Ny clothes were almost torn
from me. ] was weak, sick haggard
bleeding, and sore Of sunburn. having
lost my helmet in 2 fall on the mountain
side. 7 was literally a walking skeleton.
I sat on the mountain q while" said
Mr.. Godfrey, slipping the little water I
had left and eating my last can Of ham
and gazed out 10 the place where knew
the Valley Of Insanity lay. but the desert |
again appeared n vast level stretch OF 1
sand The realm OF the haboOn queen Is /
safe ! said It would not be worth
while for me 10 testify that The Valley I
Of Insanity and the strange race which 4
inhabits = are real and not a tale
founded ON native superstition So went 1
back 10 Mafeking and said nothing.
Live on Nuts and Roots.
l did have one Of the short spears /
and poison arrows used by the ground /
iweilers but left them in Africa. The
people lived on nuts and roots and sort
Jf porridge made Of a stubby kind of
,orn which they cultivated In small
''NN''N- HA'-iiN -4lc springs j ne women
wore branches Of palms leaves twisted
Ike bracelets on their arms above the
IboWs ana men wore twisted palm leaves
'olored black, fastened in their matted
lair.
i believe the strange tribe 7 discover
ID IS related 70 the bushmen who are not
considered entirely human by the Brit
sh- The death sentence IS imposed for
dLing q Kafiir. but to Kill a Bushman
means only five years.
This expedition into the Valley of In
ani-y.' concluded Mr.. Godfrey. "ras
made shortly after the close of the Boer
var The mere idea OF Africa now stirs
ne 10 thought Of further exploration lD
hat dark. unknown continent. I NAV
oon return 10 lake up the cIew to King
'oiomon's lost mines"