The Raymer enterprise., 1913-05-15


been entirely forgotten.
To have crossed Africa In an auto
mobile Is no mean boast, when one
remembers that there are no roads
and no repair or gasoline supply
stores en- route. The Cape-to-Cairo
rallway-that great dream OF q truly
great empire builder. Cecil Rhodes-is
fast nearing completion; and In q
year. or perhaps little more. travel
ers may journey in luxurious ccm.
fort by train and steamer from Cape
Town to Alexandria. They who do
this will be able then to realize to the
fullest possible extent what the
pioneers OF travel ii the African hin.
terland had to contend with.
One would think that to bring to
a successful termination such a 81.
gantic feat as that which Lieutenant
Graetz set himself In his famous AZ
rican automobile expedition would be
sufficient to satisfy even the mos.
gluttonous appetite for adventure. Yet
II is typical OF Lieutenant Graetz that
he should not rest content with this
one truly great achievement.
His project, undertaken on behalf
OF the African World. was to cross
the great and practically unknown re-
gions OF Central Africa from the In.
dian TO the Atlantic ocean. by way
OF the Zambesi river. Lake Bang.
weolo. and the Congo river. How.
ever, not by automobile this time. but
by motor boat. This offered some.
thing unique In the way OF African
travel. 1t meant hardships and dis.
appointments innumerable. but what
OF that
He mapped out route that would
take him from Quilimane. the port on
the coast OF Portuguese East Africa.
TO the mysterious Lake Bangweolo,
by way OF the River Qua -ua, LAGER
donia. River Shire. Port Herald. Chi.
GUIANA. Fort Johnstone. Lake Nyassa.
Karonga, and then across the water.
shed to Fife. The mo r-boat was
specially prepared for this part OF the
Journey. being fitted with wheels for
use on land.
From Fife he decided to travel by
way OF the Chambesi river, kabinga.
and thus arrive at the shores of the
small inland sea, Lake Bangweolo.
upon which no white man had ever
sailed. After spending some time ex.
ploring this unknown water and col.
lecting specimens Of aquatic and land
life Graetz planned TO push on to the
Atlantic by way OF the Luapuln, Lake
Meru Paula, Kasengo. Lukongzolva,
Kiambl Stanleyville. CoGuillhatville,
Yumbi and Leopoldvlle, and thus TO
the mouth OF the Congo
Take up map OF Africa and trace
out this route for yourself. and you
may realize In part what this stupen.
dous journey OF six thousand miles
tallowing for the necessarily tortuous
route to be followed) meant TO Lieu.
tenant Graetz and his companion. the
French cinematograph operator. Mon.
sieur Octave Fere.
Graetz had heard OF the magic
Lake Bangweolo from the Awemba
tribe. II had sinister reputation
among the native tribes resident both
near and far from It's shores. The
Awemba people told him that Bang.
weolo was studded with islands, on
which we're to be found colossal ele.
plants and gigantic gIraffes, while on
its waters swan huge sea.serpelts
and other strange creatures. From
the surface Of the lake hot springs
rose and fell Ike fountains In the air:
and pestIlentlal winds, sweeping
across the reedy marshes, carried
death TO all living beings.
No health resort this: rather
Dante's Inferno' No natives ventur.
Ing upon It's waters In their frail
fantastically shaped canoes had ever
returned. II was regarded by some
tribes ms a sort OF Hades. where de-
parted souls suffered continually the
most dreadful tormcnts while others
again thought that II was the mp.
proach to Paradise. where the spirits
OF their dead relatives enjoyed per.
feet life under the protection OF their
gods
II was known TO be surrounded by
thick and lmpenotrable rushes. max.
Ing It's exploration matter OF great
difficulty. The great prize which
Grnetz hoped to secure. In addition to
being the first explorer OF this won.
derful lake set deep in the heart OF
the wllds OF Africa. was specimens OF
n species OF gigantic buffalo. which
were commonly believed by the M.
tlves to make their home on the
shores OF the lake. They were known
TO be unusually fierce and dangerous
but this did not deter Graetz and his
plucky companion from their adven.
turous quest after them.
Lieutenant Graetz left Berlin on
February 25. 1911. accompanied by
Fiere and his motor.launch. the Sarot.
a. Elaborate arrangements we're
made at Quilimane for their plunge
into the wilderness. ...
At last all was ready for the start