The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-07-12

Nyanza and on the banks Of the Nile did not ,as
sen my regard for them as men. Perhaps their
caiiing as elephantpoachers may not have been
regular In the eyes OF the law but then there was
such an element of danger connected with their
work that the onenses of which they were guilty
paied before all other considerations and one is
forced to concede to them the possession OF the
acme Of pluck. The freebooter or soldier of for
tune is ever picturesque figure and the Congo
poachers amply ill this role
had marched one hundred and sixty-five miles
across the dreary, swelteringly hot Uganda coun.
try, and 1t was with feelings of extreme relief
that saw the shimmering expanse of the waters
of the Albert Nyanza from the rugged hill-tops
overlooking Butiaba the small port on the sx4dy
shore of the lake.
pitched camp on the site Of the recent Roose-
welt encampment within one hundred feet of the
lake.
had heard from natives that one Of the Congo
poachers was in camp at Butiaba. but none Of
them seemed to know his name and was at a
loss to know who he might be- remembered that
there were number Of men whom knew inti-
mately poaching in this district. and wondered
whether perchance was to be given opportu-
nifty Of renewing my acquaintance with one of
them. Perhaps 1t might be John Boyes, nick
named King of the Kikuyu:" or ssKaromoja"
Bell. the mightiest Of elephant-hunters the Hon
Orable Rupert Craven brother OF Earl Craven;
young Quentin Grogan. brother Of Captain Ewart
s. Grogan of Cape-to-CairO fame; Pickering. a
noted elephant-hunter; Bennett. an ex-engineer Of
the Nile launches: w. Buckley. partner Of Pick
ering's: or Pearson, to say nothing of many oth-.
.ers whom had met from time to time. men.
tion them by their correct names, for they made
no secret of their calling and feel sure that
am not committing any indiscretion by so doing.
Each one of these men has a history, and each
and every one Of them tell thrilling tales of
his experiences not only in the Congo but also in
every other part of Africa.
MY interested conjectures as to who the man
at Butiaba might be were soon set at rest It Is
the custom for all white men In Africa to call on
any other white man who may camp In their vi
entity. and so 1t not long before the "poacher
came to my camp to see me- 1t proved to be
Bennett the ex-engineer Of the Uganda Nile feet.
who had abandoned his professional calling for the
more thrilling and lucrative work Of shooting ele
phants for their ivory. For many years he had
been In charge Of the small steam launch plying
between Butiaba and Minute on the Nile, and dur
ing theso years he had done much shooting on
the banks of the river His haul Of ivory added
each year to his small income as launch eng
neer so that It was q bad year indeed when he
did not double. nay treble. his paltry salary. He
had been with Winston Churchill. when the lat
ter made his trip up the Nile on the government
notilla when inspecting East Africa and Uganda
In his ofcial capacity as under secretary OF state
FOR the colonies.
This is the story Of man. told to me on
my first night in camp at Butiaba. sitting in my
tent beating on the attack Of greedy mosquitoes
while entertaining Bennettwith the aid of my linn
tied supply Of whisky The story was so startling
that often had to pinch myself during Its recital
80 satisfy myself that was not dreaming of the
days Of Ennin Pasha and Stanley as the result OF
the association Of my surroundings.
noticed that his hands were badly iacerated.
tn fact, In fearful state. and all the time we
conyersed about generalities / was wondering
what had been the cause. Presently the CONVEX
station turned to the subject Of elephantshootins
and asked him how he was progressing with his
quest for ivoiy. had got him Interested now
and leaned back in my easy campchair to listen.