Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-26

When ex-President Roosevelt lands at
Nombassa, British East Africa, he will
be as far from the real scene OF his ac-
tivities as Pittsburg is from New York.
Most of this intervening country can be
covered by rail, but the last stage will be
by caravan. When he gets to the end
OF his railroad journey he will find native
porters ready to accompany him. The
custom is TO take about thirty Of these
for every white man in the party, and
they are paid from $3.50 to IS per month
for their services. For the first thirty
miles or so Mr.. Roosevelt will have to
watch out for assertions from his ranks.
Ii is one of the rules that the porters
must be paid a months wages in ad-
vance. and the willy Africans are not
averse to deserving day or two after
their service begins.
1t is said that one OF the essential
things to a successful hunting trip to
the interior OF Africa is an abundant
supply of glass beads and cheap alarm
clocks. Diamonds have no such value to
the interior natives as these possess, and
Theodore Roosevelt will probably give
the world a first class imitation CT
Christopher Columbus and Captain John
Smith in trading with the aborigines. 1t
is related by Columbus in his diary that
he felt many pangs Of conscience for
trading worthless trinkets for valuable
gold. but Captain John Smith has not
bequeathed to posterity a single word Of
regret at being able to drive so good a
bargain.
One OF the worst things Mr.. Roosevelt
viii have to contend with on his expedi-
ton is the white ants. These insects trav-
ell in vast hordes, over running everything
that comes their way. They can eat any
thing but stone and metal, and even a suit
OF clothes left in their path at night
will be no more than a tangled bunch
OF threads next morning. Then there are
the poisonous insects with which he will
have to contend. Not long ago a party
OF hunters happened to be in the very
section to which Mr.. Roosevelt is going.
One happened to notice something like
mosquito bite on his hand. Ammonia
was put on it, but the arm began to
swell. resisting every sort of treatment.
FINALLY IT was decided to amputate the
arm. This was done. and the stump
scared with fire. Even this heroic treat
ment did not avail. and the victim final
~ died in unutterable agony.
Up TO three generations ago the inte-
rior OF Africa was as unknown as the
region OF the south pole is today. No
matter that for centuries upon centu-
ries before the coast regions of Africa
had been the seat of a civilization which
accomplished great things. No matter If
the valley of the Nile is even today teem-
ing with the magnificent ruins of temples.
tombs, and towers surprising anything
the modern hand has yet reared. No
matter If the ancient Egyptian knew a
secret OF embalming that has preserved
his body intact to the present day-Just
beyond these things the dark interior of
Africa remained undisturbed.
How comes it that America and Aus
trslia. both so recently discovered, fairly
TEEN with cities? That the iron horses
speed from end TO end of both conti-
nents? That the herds of buffalo are al
most exterminated? That thousands OF
dollars are spent on the education of the
Indian? And yet Africa, known from re-
hottest ages. can boast only few miles
Of railroad. Elephants and lions roam
over her "uninhabitable downs" while
the sons OF Ham, unpublished, still calm
/ " devour the white man who runs across
their track?
The ancients did make some excursions
Il into Central Africa. Herodotus told
some tales that were long regarded with
suspicion, although they probably con-
tanned grains Of truth. The well-knoWn
story OF the five young men who were
captured by the dwarfs was entirely dis
| credited until the recent discovery OF the
| ''pigmies'' of Central Africa. And GER
/ tainly no one can disprove the tale OF the
/ Phoenician vessels which sailed down the
Red sea and returned through the Pill
/ lars of Hercules"
| About the seventh century the Arabs
| ioined forces with the Moors and con-
ouered Spain, southern Italy and the
| whole of northern Africa. With the as
| set of their nomadic character, they
found little difficulty in pushing into the
heart of the dark continent. They tooh
possession of many towns, and some OF
their writers left very good descriptions
of the interior OF Africa. Trade and com
merce were encouraged under Arab rule
and Timbuctoo arose 10 its great height
Prince Henry, OF Portugal, gave great
| iupetus to navigation and exploration
He waged war against the Moors, and
captured Ceuta, the fortified promontorS
/ opposite Gibraltar. Among his prisoners
were some very learned men. From these
he heard of the depths Of Africa, Of
| Ttmbuctoo with its ivory palace and It's
salt mines. He Immediately established
a school of navigation and fitted out eX
Deditions He was in search of a shor
| route TO India, and of the aforesaid ivory