The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-12-29


he then travelled over the highla nds
or Portuguese East Africa, which
have been developed ythe Mozam-
bique company into one OF the most
important agricultural sections of
East Africa.
He then proceeded across South.
ern Rhodesia TO Bulowayo and Vic
toria Falls. At the latter ,point
many OF the fruits concerning which
Livingstone wrote enthusiastically
were found and tested and the seeds
sent To the department in. the hope
that they might prove useful here.
DIR. Shantz spent 10 days there and a
month at Kafue. a little farther north
I'm Northern Rhodesia, where a delay
was caused by the sickness of two
members OF the party. At this point
word was received of a railway wreck
on the Congo railway. in which two
members of the original party were
Killed and two injured and forced to
return to America. This news, coupled
with the sickness i'm camp, was the
darkest part OF the trip and threat
ened at one time to terminate the ex-
pedition, so far as Central Africa
YVES concerned.
Mr.. Raven. of the Smithsonian In
stitution. and DIR. Shantz decided to
Keep on through the Congo Here
for the first time the party encounter
ed lack OF adequate provision for
travelling. From there on practically
no hotels and no provision for food
Tor travellers were found, although in
some cases the captains on the ships
on the Congo were kind enough to
allow the travellers to mess with them.
and at certain points grass huts had
been provided as temporary quarters
for travellers.
Ihis section was particularly in
feresting to the agricultural explorer
because OF the immense number of
wild sorghum grasses which were
found all along the line, as well as
interesting vegetable and food plants
used by the natives as well as their
rather unique methods of agriculture.
The two men proceeded down as far
as kindu. which is situated about
midway between the Atlantic and the
indian Oceans and about three de-
grees south OF the Equator.
From here they proceeded to Lake
Tansanyika by way OF Albertsyille.
This was interesting country because
here was located Till. where Stanley
found Livingstone, and few miles
north, kigoma. the terminus of the
railway line leading from the Indian
Ocean at Dar-es-Salam. Here were
found the finest mangoes yet encoun-
tered, fruits Of unusual size and fla
vor. a. we'll as many interesting types
Of heans, castor-beans. cassava (tap-
local, and many wild grasses which
may prove 10 be Of forage value in
the southern parts OF the United
States. 4.of
"A visit to the new Belgian terri
tory OF irundi offered opportunity to
study probably .he finest grazing land
In all Africa, a region which supports
mitlions of natives who rely almost
entirely upon cattle which Craze upon
the natural grasses of this great up
land country. ,f,s
AZ Tabora. farther east known as
the home az the mango, wonderful
trees and fruits were found. At Dar-
cs-Salam the cocoanut palm is one
OF the most important crops and has
been planted on the sandy lands
which extend Tor many miles back
from the coast.
In Zanzibar. principally noted for
the production OF cloves ard for the
extensive groves of cOacOanut palm
and many tropical and subtropical
plants. DIR. Shantz obtained and sent
home seeds and plants OF a number
OF important fruits. and also many of
tho staple grains and legumes grown
In various parts OF the East Coast of
Africa and sold on the Zanzibar mar
ket.
Returning TO the mainland at Tan
ga. DIR. Shantz proceeded across Ger
man East Africa to near Kilin,an-
Jaro, one OF the most wonderful
mountains in the world. at the base
of which Is a vary rich agricultur-
al country. Here are great planta
tions Of sisal. rubber. and coffee, and
many important forage grasses.
From here the party passed
through voy and from voy to Mai
robi, the seat OF the agricultural de-
partmcnt for East Africa, and here
much help was secured from the To-
cal authorities. An extensive trip
was also made into the desert coun-
Try north and east Of Mount Kenia,
and the principal varieties of tropical
crops grown by the natives i'm this
section were secured. DIR. Shantz also
secured here notable nut plant call
ed tclfaeria, which forms q. large
sourd or feet long containing a
large number of seeds OF ~ delicious
nutty favor about l inch I'm diamc-
Ter and one -uufrrter of an ipcl,
through, which taste something like
our butternut. Although this plant
has not yet been tried I'm this coun-
try. 1t secms probable that it can be
grown here, at least in the Philip
pines and possibly In Hawai-, and
Porto Rico.
The trip west to Lake Victoria
across Uganda and down to the Su-
dan was through a region compare
Ia. L..