Charlevoix county herald., 1912-09-14


seeing SO much as the print or an
English foot.
He was a farmer Of Lichtenburg,
grazing district lying In the west OF
the Transvaal, and II was easy Tor
him to muster little company OF kins-
men and friends Of like temper to
trek with him out of the Transvaal
few days after the close Of the war.
There were twenty-six whites In his
party, men, women and children. and
about a hundred Kafirs, most OF whom
had been attached by years Of service
and good treatment.
Du Toit had no definite choice OF a
spot to settle on. He planned In
general way to spy out the land amid
and beyond the swamps OF Mozam-
bique and laid his course straight over
the weld to Komateport at the railroad
icrossing between the Transvaal and
the Portuguese territory. For some
time his trek was heard from more
ior less frequently. but after passing
1.-The Portuguese border the news be-
gan to shrink to bare reports that the
IBoers had been seen by natives from
time to time, still pressing on to the
northeast through the wilderness to
ithe vast swamps.
They were doggedly entering the
most repellent region Of the dark con-
tinent, fearful expanse Of fetid pools
and loathsome mire, under the glare
of the torrid sun, the breeding ground
of the crocodile and all manner OF
reptiles, insects and vermin a perpet-
.ual fount of miasma and deadly fevers,
Out jealousy held against intrusion by
the fiercest and most bloodthirsty ma
Sives of Africa. All cunning and hate
are lodged in these people. into whose
native blood has come touch OF the
ARAB and of the trader Of Madagascar.
Their normal life is war; their chief
amusement is murder; the savage
with most blood on his hands is a
hero, and may become god when he
dies.
1t was presumed that the Boer trek
had passed into the swamps, but no
native had seen the entry and no
news came out and back to Lichten-
Iburg. After several months OF vain
for the trail was begun with the help
of native scouts.
Every path leading into the marshes
was traced for many miles by the
searching parties, but no marks OF Du
Tots trek were detected and no It'd
ms OF the missing party could be
gathered from the natives. Yet ev-
cry Africander persisted in the belief
that the party was somewhere alive or
that its fate could be learned All
African history has no record Of lost
Boer but, after hunting vainly for
many weeks, the Portuguese govern
ment was on the point of giving up the
attempt. and 1t was evident that the
Beers must renew the search for their
countrymen or 1t would be abandoned
had gone to Lorenzo Marques to
select land for the same purpose as
Du Toit in territory beyond the
stretch Of British dominion. The mys
ferrous disappearance Of the Boei
frekkers was table-talk in the little
kiosks on the street-corners. Within
an hour after my arrival Portuguese
colonel, who was seated at one Of the
tables, rose to meet me as I entered {
kiosk and greeted me as an old &C
Cuaintance. I sat down to share
bottle of wine with him, and, after
few minutes OF polite inquiries ant
fIowery talk, he urged me to enlist II
the hunt for the missing party.
The governor general was persuad
ed to make one more trial, and m,
friend, Colonel Andreas, was put II
command Of troop OF four hundred
men. with myself and number o
friendly natives as scouts.
On the second day the raw mel
showed signs Of fatigue, and befor
the end OF the third day the horse
were tagged and plodded along wit
dropping heads.
As days went on, the column thin
ned out more and more, stretching on
for over a mile. Millions OF insect
lowered over our marching trooI
drinking our sweat and settling 4
such swarms that every mans bac
looked as II IL were coated with file.
wings. One by one the stragglers 4
the rear would cry for help and dro
swooning from their saddles. TIL
horses, too, were falling from e,
haustion. At intervals from the sui
rounding bush we would hear tn
sharp crack OF rife: or an arro-
huzzing like a frightened humminl
bird would reach it's mark In one {
our troop. II was idle for us to a
tempt pursuit. Before we could spu
our tired horses TO the cover, the lurl
Tag native would slip off into the thicl
,zls.
After month OF this travelling b
forced marches. stopping only a fe'
tirres to rest at pool or stream, on
l-rses were too fatigued to go furtl
or. We knew that we were not ia
from the border OF the swamps an
the colonel determined to make th
srntiy on foot.
IN order TO ughtsa tina load oil th