The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-22
MIR, ROOSEVELT ON THE TREK.
Ex.President Describes a Night March
in Africa.

In Mr.. Roosevelt 5 latest instalment
Of his African story in Scribner' s we
get a glimpse of the naturalist, the Keen
observcr of men and nature, and the
figure of the recOrd-breaking hunter
drops into the background as the writer
tells of the work of the missionary and
describes the sights aud sounds of %
mile Journey across the Thirst.
.thirst +, we are reminded, Is the AIN
cander s name for any strip of waterless
country. On this occasion oN-wagohs
were used TO help the porters. MI
Roosevelt describes night march:
Slowly the shadows lengthened; the
light waned. the glare of the white,
dusty plain softened, and the bold out
lines of the distant mountains grew nm
Just before nightfall we halted on the
farther side of dry watercourse. Ihe
safari came up singing and wlnstling,
and the men put down their loads, Int
fires. and with chatter and laughter pre-
pared their food. The crossing was not
good sides of the watercourse beng
Steep and each wagon was brought
through by a double span, the WHIPS
crac king Justify as an accompaniment 70
the shouts of the drivers, as the thirty
oxen threw their weight INTO the y0kes
by which they were attached TO the iohS
trek tow. The horses were fed. we nau
tea. with bread and cold meat-and
most delicious meal IT was-and theh
Law doing or talking beside tine pusn
fires. At half-past eight, the moon nav.
ing risen, we were off again. Inc saIali
was still in high spirits, and started
with the usual chanting and drumming.
We pushed steadily onward across the
plain. the dust rising in clouds under the
spectral moonlight. Sometimes we rode,
sometimes we walked to ease our horses.
The Southern Cross was directly ahead;
nor far above the horizon. Higher ana
higher rose the moon, and brighter the
flood of her light. At intervals the park
inc call of zebras was heard on either
hand. 1t was after midnight when we
again halted. The porters were tlred,
and did not sing as they came up; the
air was cool, almost nipplng, ana they
NJ once huddled down in their blankets,
some of them building fires. We, the
white men, after seeing our horses
staked out, each lay down in his over,
coat or Jacket and slicker. with his head
on his saddle, and his rifle beside him,
and had little over two hours sleep
At three we were off again, the shiyer-
ing porters making no sound as they
started; but once under way the more
irrepressible spirits speedily began =
kind of intermittent chant, and most OF
the rest by degrees joined in the occa-
sional grunt or hum that served as emo
rus. m,
first through the moonlight, and then
through the reddening dawn. Jackals
shrieked, and the plains plover walled
and scolded as they circled round us.
Colonel Roosevelt also tells of day s
hunt. which ended in the killing of a
great lioness. Night was drawing on
and as the porters were staggering, un'
der their heavy load, progress was slow
About four miles from camp some one
caught sight Of the CLEAN from the fires
| from a Nasal kraal, and thither the
party turned their steps.
The kraal was in shape a big oval
with a thick wall of thorn bushes, eight
feet high. the low huts standing just
| within this wall, while the cattle ano
sheep crowded small bomas in the center
| The fires cleaned here and there within
and as we approached we heard the talk
ing and lau ghing of men and women
and the lowing and bleating OF the pent
up herds and flocks. We hailed loudly
explaining our needs. At first they were
very suspicious. They told us we couic
not bring the lion within, because, II
would frighten the cattle, but aftel
some parley consented to our building
fire outside, and skinning the animal
They passed two brands over the thorr
fence, and our men speedily kindled {
blaze. and drew the lioness beside 1t
Bv this time the Nasal were treasured
and score of their warriors, followed
| soon NV half a dozen women, came Out
through a small opening in the fence
and crowded close around the lire, Will
boisterous, noisy good humor. They
showed tendency to chaff our porters
One. the humorist of the crowd, excitee
much merriment by describing, will
pantomimic accompaniment of gestures
how when the white man shot lion II
might bite swahili, who thereupoI
would call for his mother. But they
were entirely friendly. and offered mt
calabashes Of milk. The men were tall
finely shaped savages, their hair plaster
| ed with red mud and drawn into longlsf
ringlets; they were naked except for
blanket worn, not around the loins, bu
over the shoulders; their ears were slit
and from them bone and wooden ora
ments hung; they wore metal brace
let's and anklets, and chains which pas
sed around their necks, or else ovel
one side of the neck and under the
opposite arm The women had pleas
ant faces. and were laden with meta
rnaments-chiefly wire anklets, brace
lets, and necklaces-of many pounds