New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-06


Countries. and Chapters on Sport by
Colonel Colville. c. b. BY Mrs Arthur
Coville svo, PIP. *. 81. London: Inc
Walter Scott Publishing Company btu'
The number of books on African sport
and travel. chiefly English, is already
legion. vet Mrs Arthur Colville's nara
tive If her experiences and observations
should not lack a hearty welcome as an
addition to the literature Of the subject.
The book is practical in its occasional
hints to the future traveller. II is inform
ing in an Introductory way In IT'S CHAP
fer addressed TO the intending settler
Rut its real value lies in its authors
noint of view. delightfully."- feminine, yet
sportsmanlke withal in the cheerful
readiness with which she bore inConven-
fences and made the best Of them Her
unfailing good humor captures the
reader. and so does the lighter side Of
things African. which never failed to ap-
neal 10 her. The natives she saw rs
good natured children. with an mex
haustible fund of childish happiness and
| fun When their shortcomings became
troublesome when the unrulv had to he
disciplined. "A".that is Colonel Col
ville-stepred in and applied the rene
| dies best understood by Children-snd
beyond her vision and hearing.
Colonel Colville was none too fortu-
nate i'm his search after big trophies
Elephant. rhinoCeros and lion were out
of the question, but even the Gland
81, Of
he. too. appears to have enjoyed every
stage of the journey. Mrs. COlville never
fails to register her wifely disappoint-
ment at her husbands failures. and, on
the other hand. rcjoces in recording
what luck he had. BY offering rewards
TO the native bearers and pOrters she
succeeded in obtaining some valuable
skins of small animals for the Kensing
ton Museum, and on the way she ac-
qured a couple of pets. goat, the pres
ent of a chief. and rooster:
The goat was not killed as we happened
to have plenty of meat at the time. The
next few days he was led along on
string. but after that he grew so tame that
he would trOt along with the caravan, and
soon became a general pet. He was very
fond of running under our machillas for
the sake of the shade and dearly loved
resting under the outer fiaD OF the tent.
He would pass the time of day with
any other goats he happened TO meet on
the road. but never stopped long, and
would dash on at FIJI speed TO rsioin the
o oTbaa Joined US He happened to sun sur
vivc the first few days, and the servants.
finding his early crow useful rerCiHe took
a fancy to him and spared his life Hc
travelled on the top of the kitchen porters
load and knew his place perfectly. His
spirits never failed him, even in pouring
rain.
A "machila," 1t should be explained, |
is a hammock with an awning swung
from poles and carried by native por-
tiers. The expedition started from
Chinde, In Portuguese East Africa, a |
meat and well kept town: moved north |
through Nyasaland to Kongoni. and 4
thence northwest through Northeast /
Rhodesia and south 10 Broken Hill. at
which point the railroad was taken for |
Beira, via Livingstone Bulawayo and |
Salisbury. The author says but little of
this journey by rail or of the towns on
the line. She dismlsses even the Vic |
toria Falls with but a scant word.
book lies in the authors avoidance Of
rcpetitions. Books Of African travel are
beginning to resemble each other closely !
in their accounts of the details Of the
daily march and the nightly camp. The
veriest stay-at-hOme has become famll- !
lar with these by now and cares but lit
tie TO read them once more. He will not
find them in Mrs. Colville's narrative.
What she has TO tell may not be of
great importance as adventure or travel, !
but it is delightfully."- told. There is a
final chapter on the awakening of the
Central African and the problems it
has already brought with it, among
them being that Of the varying view
points of administrators and mission
aries. Among the many illustrations
there are some reproductions in colors
of sketches by the author made with a