Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-01-20
TRAVELS AFOOT
IN EAST Africa
British Scientist Gsts Priceless
Fetishes From King.
COLLECTS FIFTY new HERBS
Among Mr.. Roscoe's Specimens Are
Implements Going Back to 1000 3. G.
Gets innumerabIe Photographs Of
Strange and Grim Ceremonies, Some
cannibaIistie and Many Quite Un.
known Hitherto-Meets Many oan-
gers,

John Roscoe, lecturer to Cambridge
university for the board of anthropo-
logical studies and one of England's
greatest ethnol0gists, has inst returned
from East Africa. where he has been
on a mission for the Royal society and
the government since May Of last
year. his expedition being financed by
Sir Peter McKie.
Mr.. Roscoe has given to the London
Daily Mail an account Of one OF the
most marvellous journeys ever under:
taken by a man of science. He has
brought hack curious knowledge and
specimens beyond even his own
dreams. His collection includes fifty
or so varieties of herbs. some Of which
seemed to effect miraculous cures;
many native ppisons. great gases full
of fetishes, implements and instru.
merits going back to 1000 B, c., and
lnnumerable photographs OF strange
and grim ceremonies, some cnnnlbal.
istc and many quite unknown hith-
erto.
Travels Thousands OF Miles
We WIZ tiuNSiCb
thousands of miles In the interior on
foot and by bicycle, using the native
maths. found tribes who lived on milk
and nothing else whatever unless q
cow died After they had fed on that
1o-hour fast was imposed. So vast
are their herds that king disposed
of 10000 as a small one.
Another tribe lived wholly on baIn-
boo tips aid moles. In another the
relatives always ate the dead. even II
they died of smallpox; hut members
of this tribe which is hardly surpris-
ing. were less healthy than others,
whose women are described rs the fat.
test t!ingP ever seen, while the men
are thin. very athletic and often we'll
over six feet IN height. One OF the
rannIlnls remarked that "Englishmen
were very tough hut East Indians
nice ana tender"
The most InterrS;in" experience OF
the expedition was SIX weeks spent
with the king Of Bunvoro He has
hecoEe ii Phr'Sti"n and 81 felt II pos
si!'e Ia give Mr.. RaScOe all his
fer'steS. priceless collection which
throws an entirely new light upon core
mories going back to 2Nn h. q. He
also organized II pageant Of some 1000
yrars-nccordlng To native t,adit'on--
of ceremonial. Thousands of matt e.
themselves came (" see II rs II sort "f
grand finale to ages ~ Accumulated
superstition.
Learns Customs.
by his Knowledge OF the local Ian
i.;tg" gained in earlier visits, Mr.. Res
"or who was alone. became familiar
with many present beliefs and Gus.
0mS. For example. IN one tribe girls
IRE betrothed at hirth and married Mt
Twelve or fourteen. If they are I'M
chaStp before marriage they are killed.
In npighboring tribe girls may do
as they will until after marriage.
Many most elaborate laws Of mar
rage morality divorce and lind ten
ure have been revealed In The course
Of the journey. The discoveries include
valuable comm hrcial information. For
example Mr.. Roscoe found graphite
of high quality In the native commun-
tiles.
He says he has material for five
years work a six hours n day. His
herbs and poiSfnS are being tested and
analysed by Edinburgh university. A
dozen cases OF rthnolo. sical specimens
are going to the PiltRivers museum
mt Oxford
The journey started az Mombasa
and the most dangerous and difficult
pat. as well as that which yielded
he richest results. was west and north
of Victoria Nyanza and In the triangle
between the three great lakes.