The Citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1903-1912, 1912-08-31

over his head, and
he longed for a wilderness where he
could live to his dying day without
seeing SO much a. the print OF an
English foot.
He was farmer Of Lichtenburg, Q
grazing district lying in the west OF
the Transvaal, and It was easy for
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, ana
about hundred Kaffirs, most OF whom
had been attached by years OF service
and good treatment.
Du Toit had no definite choice OF
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
crossing between the Trarsvaal and
the Portuguese territory. For some
time his trek was heard from more
or less frequently, but after passing
the Portuguese border the news be-
gan to shrink to bare reports that the
Beers had been seen by natives from
time to time, still pressing on to the
northeast through the wilderness to
the vast swamps
They were doggedly entering the
most repellent region OF the dark con-
faa 90, II 40 fnttd nnn1a
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,
but jealously beld against intrusion by
the fiercest and most bloodthirsty ma
tives OF Africa. All cunning and hate
are lodged in these people, into whose
native blood has come a 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 q
hero. and may become a god when he
dies.
II was presumed that the Boer tref
had passed into the swamps. but NJ
native had seen the entry and nj
news came out and back TO Lichten
burg. After several months o. vair
waiting and growing anxiety, a search
for the trail was begun with the hell
Of native scouts.
Every path leading into the marshe,
was traced for many miles by thu
searching parties, but no marks OF ID,
Toit's trek were detected and no It'd
ings OF the missing party could b.
gathered from the natives. Yet ev
cry Africander persisted in the belle
that the party was somewhere alive o.
that It's fate could be learned. Al
African history has no record OF los
Boer; but. after hunting vainly 70
many weeks, the Portuguese govern
ment was on the point OF giving up tn
attempt, and II was evident that TIL
Beers must renew the search for thei
countrymen or II would be abandoned
had gone to Lorenzo Marques 4
select land for the same purpose n
Du Toit In a territory beyond tn
stretch OF British dominion. The myi
terious disappearance OF the Roe
trekkers was table-talk in the littl
kiosks on the street-corners. Withi
an hour after my arrival a Portuguese
colonel, who was seated at one OF tn
tables. rose to meet me as ] entered
kiosk and greeted me as an old a
quaintance. sat down to share
bottle OF wine with him. and. after
few minutes OF polite inquiries an
: fiowery talk. he urged me to enlist I
, the hunt for the missing party.
The governor.general was persua,
ed TO make one more trial, and m
, friend, Colonel Ar'reas. was put
. command of troop OF four hundre
7 men, with myself and number {
, friendly natives as scouts.
. On the second day the raw me
. showed signs OF fatigue, and befoI
= the end OF the third day the horse
were tagged and plodded along wit
4 dropping heads.
I As days went on. the column thi
l. ned out more and more, stretching o,
! for over a mile Millions OF insect
% | UONereu over our nHfCnlng trOO
e drinking our sweat and settling
3 such swarms that every mans bac
J. looked as n II were coated with file
wings. One by one the stragglers
I the rear would cry for help and Dire
:. swooning from their saddles. tt
l. horses, too, were falling from e
d haustion. Al intervals from the su
p rounding bush we would hear u
sharp crack Of rife; or an AFRO
J. buzzing like frightened hummin
bird would reach It's mark in one
Q our troop. II was idle for us TO q
tempt pursuit Before we could SD,
our tired horses to the cover, the lur
ing native would slip off into the Tho
a cts
II After a month OF this travelling
I forced marches stopping only a fe
n times TO rest at pool or stream, o.
n nnrses were too fatigued to go furt
s. r. We knew that we we're not 4
! from the border OF the swamps eI
h the colonel determined to make Il
II ap,ry an foot