The Red Cloud chief., 1912-07-11

Nyanza and on the banks OF the Nile did not les
sen my regard for them as men. Perhaps their
regular in the eyes Of the law, but then there
such an element Of danger connected with their
work that the offenses of which they were guilty
paled before all other considerations, and one 10
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
poaehers amply All this role.
I had marched one hundred and sixty.hve 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 hltops
overlooking Butiaba, the small port ON the sandy
shore OF the lake.
L,tched camp on the site of the recent Roose-
velt encampment within one hundred feet Of the
lake.
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 I knew init.
mately poaching in this district, and wondered
whether perchance was to be given an opportu.
nifty Of renewing my acquaintance with one OF
them Perhaps It might be John Boyes. nick
named king of the Kikuyu:" or "Karomoja"
Bell. the mightiest Of elephant.hunters; the Hon.
orable Rupert Craven. brother Of Earl Craven;
young Quentin Grogan. brother Of Captain Ewart
8. Grogan Of Cape-to.Cairo fame; Pickering.
noted eephanthunter; Bennett. an ex-engineer Of
the Nile launches; w. Buckley. a partner Of Pick.
ering's: or Pearson, to say nothing Of many 9TH
ers whom I had met from time to time. men.
ton 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 history. and each
and every one Of them can ten 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 Butaba might be were soon set at rest II Is
the custom for all white men In Africa to call on
any other white man who may camp In their W.
cinity and so 1t was not long before the 'poacher
came to my camp to see me. It proved to be
Bennett the ex-engineer Of the Uganda Nile Meet
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 these 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 engi'
neer. 80 that 1t was a 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
hotilla when inspecting East Africa and Uganda
IN his ofcial capacity as under secretary OF state
for the colonies.
This II the story Of man, as told TO me on
my first night in camp at Butiaba, sitting In my
tent beating of the attack OF greedy mosquitoes
while entertaining Bennett with the ala OF my I'm
tied supply Of whisky. The story was 30 startling
that often had to pinch myself during its recital
to satisfy myself that was not dreaming OF the
DAYS of Emin Pasha and Stanley az the result OF
the association of my surroundings.
noticed that his hands were badly lacerated.
in fact. in fearful state and all the time we
conversed about generalities was wonjerins
what had been the cause. Presently the conver'
sation turned to the subject Of elephant-shootns.
and asked him how he was progressing with bis
quest for ivory had got him interested now
ana leaned back In my easy csmpchair to listen.