Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-03-15


g make US acquainted with the
~ geography of Africa than
during the whole OF the 1,700
previous years since Ptolemy taken
together With Mungo Park, strictly
speaking. commences the era of I'M
ceasing endeavors to explore the IN
terror, The explorations of the latter
half of the nineteenth century, actu-
ated as they were by diverse motives,
are full of interest and have resulted
in giving the world a great If not en-
;irely complete knowledge of this
vast continent
After perusing the scores OF books
on exploration, travel and sport in
Africa issued during the last dozen
years, for the most part mere shoot
ing trips, illustrated by Indifferent
photographs, I'm the Heart Of Africa"
by Duke Adolphus Frederick of Neck
lenburg. is something of a relief. 1t
is the record Of an expedition under
taken during the years 1907-l90S for
the purpose of conducting a systemat-
&c investigation Of the German East
African protectorate, the Central At
rican Rift valley, in its expansion
from Lake Kiwu to Lake Albert Ny
ANA, and finally the northeastern con-
fines of the Congo State. The expe-
dition was completed by the crossing
of Africa to the West Coast. This i'm
portant undertaking was aided inan-
cially and in other ways by the Ger
man colonial Office, the German Co
lonial company, the Royal Prussian
Academy of Sciences, and the Muse
um of Folklore, Berlin. The vast col
lections gathered were exhibited pub
licly in Berlin last year, and were
afterwards made over to German mu-
seums and other scientific institutions.
The results obtained we're astonish-
ing in quantity and Importance. Vast
districts were carefully surveyed and
mapped, including the wonderful vol
canic regions beginning at the north
ern point of Lake Kiwu: geological
explorations were zealously and scien-
tifically conducted, and the botanical
spells comprised no less than 1856
specimens, among which hundreds
quite new to science were discovered.
The geological work was done with
the usual German thoroughness; S34
mammals, 500 birds, 173 reptiles, 70S
fishes. 204 amphibious animals. $50
molluscs, ,452 decapods, 1903 in
sects. 1881 arachidnae-these are
only a portion of the amazing cap
lures OF the expedition. The classifi-
cation of these specimens, which in
clude a great number of new forms,
will be the work of some years. A
considerable number of new verte-
brates are included in the collection.
From the Observation-Disclosures
ical point of view. Duke Adolf of
Mecklenburg's expedition is one of
the most important that has ever con-
Quoted an exploration In Africa No
less than LOTT skulls and about 1000
photographer were collected; $500
natives were measured; among the
FIVE thousand-odd photographs taken.
ZOO are of curious and important races
Of savages Eighty-seven phono-
grams and 81 languages We're also re-
corded.
1t is an extraordinary record,
Astounding in picturesque incident and
many dangers, and lightened here
and there by descriptions of the sue
cessful chase of elephants, lions. buff
faloes. leopards and many other spe-
cies OF big game One of the finest
elephants secured by the duke-shot
on tho Semliki river-carried tusks
Weighing 9s and 81 pounds apiece, and
measuring feet 3ih inches and feet
90 inches respectively. This mighty
elephant was nearly ending the career
of the author and one of his native
boys. who were caught by the wound
ed beast while stuck fast in some
swampy ground. The boy was actual
ly twice tossed by the monster, but,
thanks TO the desperate wounds sus-
tanned by the beast, managed TO es-
cape with his life In the haunts of
The okapi the duke and his compan-
ions soon discovered that II is almost
an impossibility for a European to
get within shot Of these shy and fur
tive creatures, amid the unfathomable
tangle of the Semlki forest Mainly
owing to the exertions Of the VAN
butd hunters. spurred on by dazzling
rewards of baksheesh, the q pedNion
managed TO secure the skins With the
skeletons complete, OF four examples.
which appear to have been the first
brought home by any German expe
dition. Some new species OF antelope
we're also secured in this forest re
sion.
The expedition was. as may be sup
posed, not invariably free from dis
aster, during It's TWO years of explora-
ton. Herr Kirschtein, one OF the
dukes iieutenants. while collecting on
karlmbissi. in the mountainous vol
canic region, was, with his native fol
lowers. suddenly assailed by violent
storm OF hail. followed by furious
snowHtorm. The temperature sank to
zero. and the natives. already much
reduced by seven days exposure on
these heights, gave up the contest for
life and saEk exhausted In spite Of
the exertions OF their leader, 20 o.
them lay dead next morning frozen
lrder s tropical sum-