The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-19
DUCHESS D'A0STA
. QUELLS AFRICAN
RIOT WITH RIFLE

Rome, October 18.-The long -awaited
volume in which the Duchess Of
Aosta promised to relate her export
ences in tho African jungle at last has
appeared. 1t is book which fully
| confirms her literary tastes and ac.
complishmcnts
ihe Duchess opens with touching
dedication TO her two sons. A,rnone
ana Amedeo, both of whom are attend
ing the Royal Naval Academy prepara-
tory TO entering the Italian navy.
Il hope writes the duchess "tbat
this VIII inspire you with n lovo for
the things your mother loved. with
passion Tor the great forests where
only the great trees survive and the
weaker die; with respect for the great
untamed animals which dictate their
law to the inhabitants of tho Jungle
and for the eagle which scars alone
above the clouds.
Il hope the book Will teach you the
religion OF beauty, courage and dar-
ing: 10 worship virgin nature which
purihes the soul and. freed from vul-
garities, carries 1t towards God. tho
Creator of all things"
book Really a Dinry.
The book Ia written in the form op
a diary and records. day by day tho
most important and interesting events
or the three trips which the duchess
made to Africa in order to arrest the
progress of consumption which then
threatened her
In the jungle the duchess Heard the
call Of the wild and responded with ali
the enthusiasm she is capable of. and
ended by loving with all her might tho
ne she was leading. The only thing
that put sad and disquieting note
into her otherwise happy and free life
was the thought of her dear ones far
away. the children and husband for
N MN tn
plete with tender expressions of love
are dedicated
From search for health. the
duchesss sotourn in Africa soon be-
came educational In character. She
LOOK deep interest in the fauna and
ilora OF the districts traversed and In
tho customs. religion and social life
OF the tribes with whom she came in
contact. Tile forests. rivers and desert
the duchess describes with skill The
accounts OF her intercourse with the
natives are full of human interest
Here and there the book betravs tho
influence of DAnnunzio. of whom the
duchess Is a great adrnirer.
AL Hoima, in Uganda. the duchess
/ was entertained at the court of the
King of the Bongoros. a most inter
esting incident of the reception was the
Introduction to the duchess of the court
buffoon. He is Il man who can tell
anything TO the King, and follows him
everywhere. He blackens his already
black face. wears a feather cap and
suit made from animals skins, and
from number Of trumpets suspended
from his waist obtains the most alb
surd sounds and initiates the cries of
wild animals.
II never expected" comments the
duchess. Ito find In the court OF an
African king. and in half civilized
surroundings. this survival of our
medieval courts"
The duchess travelled with only two
white companions. Captain Piscicelli
her husbands aide camp, who
headed the party. and Miss Susan
Hicks Beach, daughter of Sir Michael
Hicks Beach. former British chan
celor OF the excheQuer. Ono evening,
while Captain Piscicelll was absent, the
head OF the caravan wounded n negro
porter who, backed by his friends.
chased him into the duchesss tent
When the duchess interfered, the nor
ter and his friends, greatly enraeed
threatened her and Miss Hicks Beach
with knives and axes. but only for a
second
Presenting her rifle, the duchess
ordered them to retreat and the riot
was quashed. The day after on re-
turning TO camp. Captain Piscicelli told
the porters that the duchess had al
ready killed hundreds of men and
henceforth her reputation was made.
On April 8, 1910. the diary records
making lunches off of lions steak.
which. the duchess writes, "is no mean
diet, and was prepared for us by Can
tain Piscicelli who also killed the
lion"