Mexico Missouri message., 1912-07-11

Nyanza and on the banks of the Nile did not les.
sen my regard for them as men Perhaps their
calling as elephant-poachers may not have been
regular In the eyes Of the law, but then there
such element of danger connected with their
work that the offenses of which they were guilty
paed 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 picturesque figure and the Congo
poachers amply fill this role.
had marched one hundred and sixty-fve miles
across the dreary, sweteringly hot Uganda coun-
try and 1t was with feelings of extreme relief
that the shimmering expanse of the waters
OF the Albert Nyanza from the rugged hill-tops
overlooking Butiaba, the small port on the sandy
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 in camp at Butaba, but none of
them seemed to know his name and was at
loss to know who he might be- ! remembered that
there were a number of men whom knew inti
mately poachng in this district, and I 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 mghtiest 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
HOleu elepnantnunteri bennett, an eS-eHSlneeT VI
the Nile launches; w. Buckley, partner OF Pick
erngs; Pearson, to say nothing of many 9TH
ers whom 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 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 II is
the custom for all white men in Africa to call on
any other white man who may camp In their vi
cinty, and 80 It was not long before the "poacher
came TO my camp to see me. II proved TO be
Bennett the exengineer of the Uganda Nile feet.
who had abandoned his professional calling for the
more thrilling and lucrative work Of shooting ele-
plants for their ivory. For many years he had
been In charge of the smtl steam launch plying
between Butaba 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
heer, so that 1t was bad year indeed when he
aid not double, nay treble, his paltry salary. He
mad been with Winston Churchill. when the lat
yer made his trip up the Nile on the government
noulla when inspecting East Africa and Uganda
IN his official capacity under secretary OF state
for the colonies
This is the story of a man, as told TO me on
NY hrst night in camp at Butiaba, sitting in my
'o"tinS OH the atLack Oh greedy mosquitoes
"uie entertaining Bennett with the aid Of my lin
ned supply Of whisky. The story was so startling
.nat often had to pinch myself during its recital
70 satisfy myself that not dreaming Of the
Gays OF Emih Pasha and Stanley the result of
'Ae association of my surroundings.
noticed that his hands were badly iacerated.
III TACT, in a fearful state, and all the time we
gU"Versed about generalities wondering
wat had been the Cause Presently the CONVEX
ION turned to the subject of elephant-shootine.
anu asked him how he was progressing with his
eNeSt TOT ivory. had got him interested now
'"u leaned back in my easy campchair to listen.