The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-26
PeneTateS WaterleSS Region
Long the Barrier to
Hunters.
DESIRED SPECIMENS
NOW ALL OBTAINED
Future Hunts of Former President
Will Be for Rare AMI
mails Only.

sAIGO sol CAMP, Lake Naivasha,
British East Africa, Aug. 26.-Two days
ago Colonel Roosevelt, Kermit, the
shree naturalists, DR.. Mearns, Prof
Heller and Loring, and the entire party
emerged from the wilderness and came
upon that garden spot. the Attend
borough farm, on the shores OF Lake
Naivasha Without a day of Illness,
without real suffering from hunger OF
thirst except on the last two days
when the usual water Pool was found
10 be dried UP, Colunel Roosevelt. his
companions. and his men had marched
twice across the dreaded thirst belt,
and had shot for four weeks IN the
Sotik, into which g very few years ago
no hunter dared 90.
And besides this, keeping up his
record, Colonel Roosevelt brought back
Epoils nearly sufficient 10 complete has
collect on OF specimens. The total
count Of big game allied up TO date by
himself and Kermit is as follows:
One elephant, twelve lions. seven
rhinoceri, three hippopotami. six gi-
Taffes. dve buffalo. four Glands and six
topi, in addition TO all the various speci-
mems OF antelope and gszelle. In fact
he has obtained in less than three
months al that he expressed the hope
70 do in one year, with the sole eX-
ception OF a white rhino, a specimen
OF which he has not yet obtained,
BiEply because It does not exist in the
regions where he has hunted thus far.
Hard Trip Ahead.
The work ahead OF the colonel will.
perhaps. be less enjoyable, for he and
Kermit are now very careful as to what
they shoot, since they wish 10 add to
their collection only rare specimens, or
else individuals from ordinary species
having some physical peculiarly of
Fize or shape, making them good for
the national collection. This means long
marches day after day when beasts of
all sort will scampe= unframed within
close range, while the colonel and Ker-
NIT stand watching them. with interest
On their habits. bHJ not shooting.
The present camp Is pitched in &
clearing Of fine, tall thorn trees. IN
front, beyond the bay, which is hidden
by foliage, is the tall Mau Eseap ement,
-ising boldly against the sky; to the
left are woods hiding the crater sides
Of Lake saigo Sol; behind is Lake
Naivasha.
While the attendants were in camp
sounds OF occasional shots coming
from somewhere over the bay seemed
70 promise good sport, and ali the pOr-
tiers and gun-bearerS who were not on
duty with the shooting party rushed
down 10 the banks and stood there in an
excited group, pointing to distant
fringe OF papyrus. through which they
could not see. and repeating at minute
intervals ''Kibolzc, kiboko," con-
Venient word here meaning hippopota-
mus. but which elsewhere may mean
fhinoeeross and everywhere means a
whip cut from the bids Of either and
used 10 cut the hides OF the natives
themselves when they misbehave.
Have No Luck.
But after a while the shooting ceased.
and several hours passed without those
"a camp knowing what was happening
DR.. Mearns, followed by a native boy
carrying a pun adder, shot by the doc
tor, soon arrived in camp This is the
most deadly Of snakes out here. Loring
and Heller were out, also. and presently
some fine specimens Of Lake Niavssha
owls. field rats, and gophers were
brought In by the natives. But still
there was no news OF the main expe-
clifton. IL was after sunset when the
colonel and Kermit came at last, tired
hungrs-, empty-handed, but cheerful
They ad been out since sunrise, either
n an open roWDoat or lying hidden IN
the papyrus, having no opportunity for
lunchs and only a canteen of water with
them for refreshment. In spite Of IL all
they had not been able 10 get near a
hippo. though they had risked shots at
e few vague noses thrust just up 10 the
water line In the distance, but which
disappeared promptly, warned by some
intuition that danger was near.
That afternoon had been spent in the
very bay where there had been seen
from twelve TO sixteen hippos sporting
regularly every afternoon.