River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-03-09

ia "a years more has been done to
~ make us acquainted with the
~ geography of Africa than
during the whole of the LOO
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 great II not en-
tirely 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, 'In the Heart OF Africa"
by Duke Adolphus Frederick of Neck
lenburg, is something of relief 1t
Is the record Of an expedition under
taken during the years 1907-1908 for
the purpose of conducting a systemat-
fc 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-
ditlon was completed by the crossing
Of Africa to the West Coast. This I'M
portant undertaking was aided f1nan-
cially and In other ways by the Ger
man colonial Office, the German Co
lonial company, the Royal Pruss1an
Academy of Sciences, and the Muse
um of Folklore, Berlin. The vast COZ
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 were 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-
tiflcally conducted, and the botanical
spells comprised no less than 1856
specimens, among which hundreds
quite new 20 science were discovered.
The geological work was done with
the usual German thoroughness; 834
mammals, 500 birds, 173 reptiles, 708
fishes. 204 amphibious animals, 686
molluscs, 1,452 decapods, 1908 in
sects, 1,181 arachidnae- 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.
considerable number of new verte-
brates are included In the collection.
From the ethnographical-anth
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
ethnographica were collected; 4,500
natives were measured; among the
five thousand-odd photographs taken,
700 are of curious and important races
of savages. Eighty-seven phono-
grams and 81 languages were 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 the Semliki river-carried tusks
weighing 9S and "a pounds apiece, and
measuring feet S7a inches and feet
2M inches respectively. This mighty
elephant was nearly ending the career
of the author and one of his native
bows. 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-
cane with his life. In the haunts of
the okapi the duke and his compan-
ions soon discovered that it is almost
an impossibility for European to
get within shot of these shy and fur
tive creatures, amid the unfathomable
tangle Of the Semlih forest. Mainly
owing to the exertions of the VAN
BUTT hunters, spurred on by dazzling
rewards Of baksheesh, the expedition
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
were also secured in this forest re
gion.
The expedition was, as may be sup
posed, not invariably free from dis
aster, during its two years of explora-
ton. Herr Kirschtein, one of the
dukes lieutenants, while collecting on
Karimbissi, In the mountainous vol
canic region, was, with his native fol-
lowers, suddenly assaileG by a violent
storm of hail, followed by q furious
cnowstorm. 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 sank exhausted. In spite OF
the exertions Of their leader, 20 of
them lay dead next morning frozen
under a tropical sum-"