Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-23

the tomb racing grand panorama OF
Central African scenery which the
empire builder himself called "the
View of the World"
It was in 1898 that Rhodes formu-
lated a scheme for the extension Of
the main trunk line from Buluwayo
by way Of Gwelo to the Zambesi and
thence onward to Lake "anganyika.
His restless ambition hoped that mean
while the British government would
be pushing south through the swamps
and forests Of the upper Nile and thus
gradually Cape to Cairo railway, all
British, would become an accomplish
ed fact.
1t Is worth noting that the 1S0|
miles from Salisbury to Gwelo ira
versed by the Big Game Limited were
laid while the Boer war was actually
raging on Rhodesia's borders. so that
the contractors had another formida-
BILE enemy added to those already ex-
listing, which ranged from man-eating
lions, who terrorized their laborers,
to the destructive white ants which
bored through and destroyed all the
timber.
Without fuss, however, the pioneers
persevered, and today the Cape gov
ernment railroads issue circular tour
lists tickets into the haunts Of the wild
elephants and into lion ridden jun
giles.
One novel feature of the Rhodesian
section is that magnificent saloon
cars are provided for private hire.
The term must be at least one month
and the charge includes all catering
Surely here is a novelty-a magnifi-
cent palace on wheels lit with electric
light, sumptuously carpeted, with per-
feet table service and card rooms,
drawing rooms, luxurious beds fitted
with electric fans at the side, minia-
ture kitchens with Portuguese chefs,
a library, shower baths, and even a
stenographer to take down notes II the
big game hunter contemplates a
book!
There Is no roughing 1t in hunting
lions and elephants in this style. The
train or private car Is used as base
camp. 1t is shunted into jungle sid
ings as may be required, and tents
taken forward for the days trip. Lo-
cal chiefs provide trackers and beat
ers, and as to the necessary money
chiefly cotton cloth, brass wire and
cowrie shells-this is carried in the
wonderful train.
If required the Rhodesian Railroads,
Limited, will send an expert taxider-
mist with the party, so that lion and
antelope head may be set up literally
while you wait and exceptionally fine
tusks mounted on fancy stands. Just
such a trip was undertaken recently
by Sir Edmunl and Lady Lechmere,
and also by Mr.. and Mrs. Alan Gard
ner. Both couples are we'll known as
big game hunters.
How one of the old time shots like
F. C. Selous must marvel at such
changed conditions. In his day, only
twenty years ago, there were TO rail-
roads in this part Of Africa at all and
he had to trek up country for five or
six months by OK wagon before the
shooting grounds were reached. On
the other hand game was infinitely
more abundant in those days than 1t
Is at present. Selous was a profess
sional ivory hunter, and his record Is
- 60 In, IN rnnnfh
Many of the wayside stations just
south of the Zambesi recall fierce and
bloody memories. Thus at little Nor
ton eight or ten years ago the weak
kneed Mashona tribes. instigated by
the war-like Matabele, rose in rebel
lion and slaughtered Administrator
Norton and Mrs. Norton, together
with their children and the English
nurse.
Just beyond Norton the Big Game
Limited runs through an oddly con-
torted forest Of mahogany, teak and
mopan wood. The trunks were twist
ed into strange fantastic shapes years
ago through having been torn and
trampled upon as saplings by the vast
herds of elephant that roamed all over
this district.
After a stay at the strangest OF
Grand hotels in the very heart of Cen
trail Africa the traveller may push on
yet further north to Broken Hill, an
other 400 or 500 miles. In places he
will see the lords of the jungles gaz-
ing innocently at the express as 1t
thunders by. Vast herds Of Zebra art
seen grazing like cattle in a field at
home; and here and there one notices
the telegraph wires torn down, most
likely by mischievous elephants or ter
rified giraffes flying from their natu-
raj enemy the lion.
There is really very little of a gap
left to complete the Cape to Cairo
stretch Of 5000 miles, and at the rail-
road today the wealthy traveller will
find himself in g. wilderness more wild
and dense than any that even Stanley
or Livingston faced a quarter of