Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-22

published in the Arms and the Man:
Mr.. Stewart Edward White sailed for
Africa, May Is, 1913, bound on a long
and dangerous journey into new
country that Cunninghame had dug
out through the reports of his Nasal
friends Mr. White took back with him
the famous sporter Springfield with
which he did most of the killing on the
former trip, his 405 Winchester, and
his big double Holland 1865 Express.
He and Cunninghame, the famous
guide, who escorted Roosevelt on his
game hunt, crossed the border into
German Government, and headed south
and west, toward Lake Natron. the
soda lake of East Africa, for unknown.
uncharted, and naturally, unlimited
country, although it is hardly probable
that the Germans are ignorant of the
regions over which they have held
political sway for these many years.
Government reports are not always
| published.
The two white men, with donkey
and-b lack-men safari laid their course
across German East Africa, or the
northern corner thereof, edging west
ward toward Lake Victoria Nyanza,
ana lEe low, lever anu SoNa6S hiAAiSSN
regions Of the big lake.
Evidently the new game fields lie be-
tween Lake Natron and Victoria Ny
ANA, in the northwest corner of Ger
man East Africa.
Also it is "Verboten," to hike across
| the boundary any old place, and reach
ing the new fields Via German ports
Of entry is evidently some journey. Mr..
| White crossed as near Natron as posi-
| ble-but by special arrangement.
The letter of Mr.. White. sent to us
by Mr.. Crossman. follows:
| Dear Shooters: c is down with fever.
| and here is a chance to write you all a
brief report, which will probably be
\ mailed three weeks hence at -? on
Lake Victoria Nyanza. Time is now
| about 3-5 up, and as l expect to spend
| the last two months hunting cog. ele-
| plant and bongo. the bulk of miscel-
| laneouS shooting and exploration is
| finished Therefore / can discuss our
| speciality with something like fnality,
| though with extreme brevity. Details
| later.
| Journey-Seventeen days through
high mountains about like our coast
range, through which no man had ever
been, white or black, as far as we
could make out. Then about three
| weeks westward from Lake Natron.
Then we entered a game field as big
as that Of British East Africa, of a
varied character. in which the animals
had literally never heard the sound
| Of rifle shot
Here we not only had wonderful
i oh l,xt ole ~ Inl oh q
70 observe the habits, habitat, ETC., of
absolutely undisurbed wild beasts.
This is the last virgin game field in
the world and can hardly exaggerate
the feeling Of joy with which l real.
ize that am the last man to discover,
and be the very first to enjoy such a
place.
The area of game fields is about
$50 miles square. and comprises all
| sorts of country from mountains to
plains. OF course we could no more
than go through SO great a country
and the sportsmen who come after us
will for long time to come have new
country to explore in detail. But We
found 1t.
To give you, an idea of the abund-
ance of game, / one day counted and
estimated four thousand six hundred
land twenty-three head, and no herd
did 1 put down at over sixty head.
Some Of the species like the roam,
that are elsewhere considered great
rarities, are here in good numbers;
and there are naturally very large
heads, as they have never been picked
over We have been travelling stead
ny through this game paradise for
two months, and are now just touch
ing the fringe Of the little known
country on the other side. near the
shores Of Victoria NyanGa, and the
tribes Of savages therein. Game is
as abundant as ever, but 1t is hunted
by the natives, though not by whites,
and cannot be considered untouched.
1t is a hard journey in spots, and
we have lost twenty-five donkeys, but
the country is not unhealthy, though
quite hot. In the early morning, at
Sc to 70 degrees, we feel cold and hug
FIRE.
Adventures.-In plenty, Of course,
but several particularly stand out
When scouting trail alone in the
mountains a rhino rushed me in a
narrow trail where 1 could not get out
of the way. l had only the Spring
field, but at 10 yards managed to give
him a headache so he turned.
Another rhino hung to for an hour,
with the Graphlex and .4o5. Was once
SO close to him that l had to back
away to get him all in the film! Got
!. nine pictures in all sorts of shapes
. and poses, and took the tenth as he
charged Laid the Graphlex down and
turned him with the 400.
Killed the finest named lion l ever
. saw, and put the first .405 bullet in
him at four PAGES. Step that and see
, how close it is. The force of impact
, stopped him as though he were hit by
| a strong wind. the second shot blew
| him right sidewise. Two more finished
him. He had his mate in the thick
, ct, which is why he was SO blamed
> kali (?).
X Another morning, when alone excep
for Memba Sasa and some porters,
tackled and killed a bunch of two lion
} and two lionesses, all Of which charged
1t was a grand battle. Fired eighteen