The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-02-22

gan secured fresh crew for their
canoe and gave chase to the fugi-
tives, but nothing was seen or heard
of them again.
At Usambara they were nursed
back to partial good health by the
German official in charge, and then
set out for the Rusisi Valley. After
many trying experiences they eventu-
ally reached the Lake Kivu district.
Grogan had been warned by Ger
man doctor at Ishangi of the thieving
of the light-fngered Wa
ruanda people, who inhabit this ter
ritory. One morning he found that
they had entered his tent at night and
stolen a tin box as well as other
things, such as instruments. money,
clothes. valuable papers and photo
graphs.
He summoned the local chief. Ngen-
ri, and asked him what he intended
to do about it. The chief tried to
bluff; but he had mistaken his man.
for Grogan promptly clapped him In
irons and pu. him in a tent under a
strong guard. with an ultimatum that
unless the stolen goods we're forth
coming at once there would be trou-
ble The old chief finally produced
some of the clothes.
Grogan left Sharp in charge Of the
camp, which they had placed in a
state of defense, and, armed with a
revolver and an old French cutlass,
set out to the chiefs village. He was
by two of his native fol-
lowers armed with rifles. His bluff
came OF and he was able to drive on
all of Ngenzi's cattle without firing
shot! The natives made a few tenta-
tive rushes at him, but they were re-
pulsed by the simple expedient OF
waving the cutlass in the air.
At least five thousand men sat on
the hilltops and watched three men
with a joint armament of revolver,
cutlass and two rifles drive on two
head of cattle! Such were
the terrible Waruanda people, whose
reputation had spread far and wide,
and whose country had been left alone
by the Germans for fear Of their mill
tary organization.
Shortly after this Grogan expert
enced considerable trouble with his
native followers. One day he found
them preparing to desert, and fully
thirty were already moving out from
the camp when Grogan realized their
It was a critical moment.
II the camp broke up. the expedition
would be inevitably massacred by the
Grogan took his rife and dashed
after them In pursuit, accompanied
by his two Watonga natives. while
Sharp, revolver in one hand and rife
In the other. threatened to shoot the
first man who moved. Rushing over
a ridge, Grogan saw the ringleader.
one of the worst of his villainous fol-
lowers and the originator of the idea
Of desertion. leading about two hun
dred yards away. Grogan fired at
him. just as he turned the corner of
the hill. fully intending to drop him.
The bullet removed the mans cap.
Down he dropped In the grass. and
the whole thirty followed suit.
After q few more shots in the air.
to keep up their anxiety. Grogan sent
out head man to order their imme-
date return to camp. They obeyed.
and the situation was saved. Their
bluff had been outbluffed. and with
ringing cheers the men returned to
their fires to jabber and howl with
laughter far into the night. From
discomfort to merry laughter is but a
transition with the AZ
rican.
Eventually Grogan parted company
for the time being with Sharp and
decided to travel through the Mus
hari country, which was known to be
Inhabited by ruthless cannibals.
The Nightmare Of Horrors.
On reaching the Mushari country.
Grogan encountered numbers of ma
tives coming back from the interior
of the territory. They proved to be
refugees from the Baleka, tribe of
cannibals from the Congo. who were
raiding the Musharf country. They
told Grogan that those of them who
had survived were living in the for
est. and that great numbers were
dying every day of hunger On the
next day he came across dead bodies
lining every path. showing that the
tales he had just heard we're only too
true.
All the paths up the hills that led
to the uplands of Mushari were lined
with grain and torn skins. relics of
those unfortunate natives who had
been caught by the Baleka: and dried
pools Of blood. gaunt skeletons. grin
ming skulls and trampled grass told
a truly African tale. On arriving at
the top Of, the ridge distant bowls In
formed the party that they had been
ohServed silhouoffed ae fhov woro