Produced by Annie R. McGuire
[Illustration: Book Cover]
[Illustration: Map of Africa]
[Illustration]
THE BOY TRAVELLERS IN THE FAR EAST
_PART FIFTH_
* * * * *
ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS IN A JOURNEY
THROUGH AFRICA
BY
THOMAS W. KNOX
AUTHOR OF
"THE YOUNG NIMRODS IN NORTH AMERICA" "THE YOUNG NIMRODS AROUND THE
WORLD" "ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS IN JOURNEYS TO JAPAN AND CHINA--TO SIAM
AND JAVA--TO CEYLON AND INDIA--TO EGYPT AND THE HOLY LAND" ETC.
Illustrated
NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE
1884
By THOMAS W. KNOX.
* * * * *
THE BOY TRAVELLERS IN THE FAR EAST. Five Volumes. Copiously Illustrated.
8vo, Cloth, $3.00 each. The volumes sold separately. Each volume
complete in itself.
I. ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS IN A JOURNEY TO JAPAN AND CHINA.
II. ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS IN A JOURNEY TO SIAM AND JAVA. With
Descriptions of Cochin-China, Cambodia, Sumatra, and the Malay
Archipelago.
III. ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS IN A JOURNEY TO CEYLON AND INDIA. With
Descriptions of Borneo, the Philippine Islands, and Burmah.
IV. ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS IN A JOURNEY TO EGYPT AND PALESTINE.
V. ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS IN A JOURNEY THROUGH AFRICA.
* * * * *
HUNTING ADVENTURES ON LAND AND SEA. Two Volumes. Copiously Illustrated.
8vo, Cloth, $2.50 each. The volumes sold separately. Each volume
complete in itself.
I. THE YOUNG NIMRODS IN NORTH AMERICA.
II. THE YOUNG NIMRODS AROUND THE WORLD.
* * * * *
PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK.
_Any of the above volumes sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of
the United States or Canada, on receipt of the price._
PREFACE
With this volume the wanderings of the Boy Travellers in the Far East
are brought to an end. Those enterprising and observant youths have
arrived safely at home, in company with their companion and mentor,
Doctor Bronson. They have seen and learned a great deal in their
absence, and it has been the aim of the author to tell the story of
their travels so that it would interest and instruct the school-mates
and friends of Frank Bassett and Fred Bronson, together with others who
have not the pleasure of their personal acquaintance.
The method followed in the preparation of the preceding volumes of the
series of the Boy Travellers has been observed in the present book, as
far as it was possible to do so. Though the author has visited several
parts of Africa, he has never made a journey to the Equatorial Regions
of the Dark Continent; consequently he has been placed under greater
obligations to other writers than in his preceding works, and the
personal experiences of Frank and Fred in Central Africa were not those
of the compiler of the narrative. But he has endeavored to maintain the
vividness of the story by the introduction of incidents drawn from many
books of African travel and exploration; he has sought to confine
fiction to the narrowest bounds, and to construct an account of travel
and adventure that should be true in every respect save in the
individual characters portrayed.
Many authorities have been consulted in the preparation of "The Boy
Travellers in Central Africa," and while some have been freely drawn
upon, others have been touched with a light hand. The incidents of the
volume have been mainly taken from the works of African explorers of the
last thirty years; a few are of older date, and some are from the
stories of travellers not yet in print. During the preparation of the
volume the author has been in correspondence with several gentlemen who
have supplied him with information relative to the most recent
explorations, and he has kept a watchful eye on the current news from
the land under consideration. Though the wanderings of the Boy
Travellers were confined to Central Africa, other portions of the
continent were studied, as the reader will discover while perusing the
following pages.
Many of the volumes consulted in the preparation of the book are named
in the narrative, but circumstances made it inconvenient to refer to
all. Among the volumes most freely used are the works of the following
authors: Stanley's "Through the Dark Continent" and "Coomassie and
Magdala;" Livingstone's "Travels and Researches in South Africa,"
"Expedition to the Zambesi," and "Last Journals;" Schweinfurth's "The
Heart of Africa" (two volumes); Barth's "Discoveries in North and
Central Africa" (three volumes); Speke's "Journal of the Discovery of
the Source of the Nile;" Burton's "The Lake Regions of Central Africa;"
Long's "Central Africa;" Baker's "The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia" and
"Ismailïa;" Reade's "Savage Africa;" Bourne's "African Discovery and
Adventure" (two volumes); Wilson's "Western Africa;" Baldwin's "Hunting
in South Africa;" Cumming's "A Hunter's Life in Africa;" Silver's
"Hand-book to South Africa;" Cameron's "Across Africa;" Serpa-Pinto's
"Comment J'ai Traversé L'Afrique" (two volumes); Du Chaillu's
"Equatorial Africa," "Ashango Land," "Wild Life Under the Equator," "My
Apingi Kingdom," and "Lost in the Jungle;" Anderson's "Lake Ngami;" and
lastly, several authors whose narratives have appeared in _Le Tour du
Monde_. The publishers have kindly allowed the use of illustrations
which have appeared in previous volumes relating to the African
continent, in addition to those specially prepared for this work. The
maps in the front and rear covers were drawn from the best authorities,
and are intended to embody all recent discoveries.
With this explanation of his methods, and the acknowledgment of his
indebtedness to numerous explorers and writers, the author submits the
adventures of Frank and Fred in Africa to the press and public that have
so kindly received the narratives of the previous travels of those
youths.
T. W. K.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE JOURNEY.--FROM CAIRO TO KOROSKO. 13
CHAPTER II.
LEAVING KOROSKO.--EARLY EXPLORERS OF THE NILE VALLEY. 25
CHAPTER III.
FROM KOROSKO TO ABOO HAMED.--THE NILE AGAIN.--ADVENTURE WITH A
CROCODILE. 37
CHAPTER IV.
BERBER AND SHENDY.--HUNTING THE HIPPOPOTAMUS.--TERRIBLE REVENGE
OF AN ETHIOPIAN KING. 48
CHAPTER V.
LIFE IN KHARTOUM.--DEPARTURE FOR GONDOKORO. 61
CHAPTER VI.
AMONG THE SHILLOOK NEGROES.--ARRIVAL AT FASHODA.--EXPLORERS OF
THE NILE. 74
CHAPTER VII.
AN ANTELOPE HUNT.--GUINEA-WORMS, WHITE ANTS, AND GREAT SNAKES. 86
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DINKAS AND BARIS.--GONDOKORO.--ANNEXATION TO EGYPT. 99
CHAPTER IX.
AN ELEPHANT HUNT.--MARCHING SOUTHWARD FROM GONDOKORO. 116
CHAPTER X.
A FISHING EXCURSION.--ENCOUNTERING A HIPPOPOTAMUS.--THE COUNTRY
OF THE NYAM-NYAMS. 130
CHAPTER XI.
ARRIVAL AT AFUDDO.--DIVISION OF ROUTES.--FRANK'S DEPARTURE. 149
CHAPTER XII.
DEPARTURE OF THE TWO EXPEDITIONS.--IN THE SHOOLI
COUNTRY.--ATTACKED IN AN AMBUSCADE. 162
CHAPTER XIII.
FRANK ON A HUNTING EXCURSION.--DRIVING THE PLAIN WITH FIRE. 175
CHAPTER XIV.
ARRIVAL AT FATIKO.--THE MARCH CONTINUED.--FRANK'S ANTELOPE HUNT. 189
CHAPTER XV.
AN ELEPHANT HUNT.--CROSSING THE VICTORIA NILE.--ARRIVAL AT
FOUEIRA.--KING RIONGA AND HIS PEOPLE. 203
CHAPTER XVI.
THE ALBERT N'YANZA.--ACCOUNT OF ITS DISCOVERY.--INCIDENTS OF
THE FIRST DAY'S VOYAGE. 216
CHAPTER XVII.
A DAY ON AN ISLAND.--INCIDENTS OF HUNTING AND
FISHING.--LAKE-DWELLINGS OF CENTRAL AFRICA. 228
CHAPTER XVIII.
DR. LIVINGSTONE AND HIS DISCOVERIES. 241
CHAPTER XIX.
FROM THE ALBERT N'YANZA TO FOUEIRA. 262
CHAPTER XX.
DEPART FROM FOUEIRA.--INTERVIEW WITH KING RIONGA.--THE PLATEAU
OF CENTRAL AFRICA.--EXPLORATIONS OF THE NIGER. 275
CHAPTER XXI.
TRAVELS OF DR. ROHLFS.--THE TSETSE-FLY.--THROUGH UNYORO. 293
CHAPTER XXII.
THE MARCH THROUGH UGUNDA.--ARRIVAL AT KING M'TESA'S PALACE. 306
CHAPTER XXIII.
CEREMONIES AT M'TESA'S COURT.--THE TELEPHONE IN AFRICA. 321
CHAPTER XXIV.
AT M'TESA'S COURT.--VISIT TO THE VICTORIA N'YANZA.--ASTONISHING
THE KING. 334
CHAPTER XXV.
AN EXCURSION ON THE VICTORIA N'YANZA. 349
CHAPTER XXVI.
RIPON FALLS.--THE OUTLET OF THE VICTORIA N'YANZA. 361
CHAPTER XXVII.
RETURN TO RUBAGA.--FAREWELL TO M'TESA.--VOYAGE DOWN THE
VICTORIA N'YANZA. 375
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE ALEXANDRA NILE.--FRED'S DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST COAST
OF AFRICA. 388
CHAPTER XXIX.
A DESCRIPTION OF SOUTH AFRICA.--ENGLISH COLONIES.--OSTRICH
FARMING. 404
CHAPTER XXX.
RESUMING THE MARCH.--MIRAMBO'S COUNTRY.--HUNTING
ZEBRAS.--DESCRIPTION OF THE SOKO. 418
CHAPTER XXXI.
TO MIRAMBO'S CAPITAL.--STANLEY'S WORK ON THE LIVINGSTONE. 431
CHAPTER XXXII.
UNYAMYEMBE.--AMONG THE ARABS.--MARCHING TOWARD THE COAST. 449
CHAPTER XXXIII.
INCIDENTS OF THE JOURNEY TO THE COAST.--CONCLUSION. 463
ILLUSTRATIONS
The Heart of Africa. _Frontispiece._
Map of Africa. _Front Cover._
Map of Central Africa. _Rear Cover._
"The Carriage is Ready!" 13
Fred's Quandary. 14
The First Shave. 14
Camp and Caravan. 17
A Group of Porters. 19
Dr. Schweinfurth Ascending the Nile. 22
An African Horizon. 23
A Village in "the Dark Continent." 23
The Native at Home. 25
Arab Slave-traders. 27
A Slave-gang on the Road. 28
Baker's Expedition Crossing the Desert. 30
"The Forty Thieves." 33
View on the Bahr-el-Azrek. 35
Pilgrims on the Road to Mecca. 36
The Guide in the Desert. 37
A Mirage in the Desert. 39
Sunrise on the Sea of Sand. 40
Scene at the Wells. 41
Mountain Pass in the Desert. 42
Dragging a Crocodile to Land. 45
Securing a Supper. 47
The Home of Behemoth. 49
An African River Scene. 50
A Narrow Escape. 51
Hippopotamus Spears. 52
Spearing the River-horse. 53
A Berber Arab. 55
Sheep of Berber. 56
View in the Atbara Valley. 58
An Ethiopian King. 60
Arrival at Khartoum. 61
Elephants at Home.--Shaking a Fruit-tree. 63
Profiles of Dinka Negroes. 65
Bringing a Slave to Market. 66
Trees near the River. 68
View near the Edge of the Town. 69
Preparing Dinner. 70
Baker's Expedition Leaving Khartoum. 71
A Village Scene. 72
The Heart of Africa. 73
A Bird of the White Nile. 75
An Ambatch Canoe. 76
An Adventure on the Nile. 77
Speke and Grant in Central Africa. 79
Group of Gani Men. 81
Karuma Falls, on the Victoria Nile (Somerset River). 83
View of Fashoda. 85
Scene on the White Nile above the Sobat. 86
Hauling a Steamboat through a Canal Cut in the Sudd. 88
Nests of White Ants. 91
A Herd of Antelope. 93
A Slave-making Ant, Magnified. 94
Colonel Long's Great Snake. 96
Python Seizing its Prey. 98
Head of a Dinka Bull. 99
Sectional View of Dinka Hut. 100
A Dinka Cattle-yard. 101
A Sheep without Wool. 102
A Dinka Village near the White Nile. 104
Ceremony at Gondokoro on its Annexation to Egypt. 107
Austrian Mission-house at Gondokoro. 108
View of Gondokoro, from the River. 109
Colonel Abd-el-Kader. 110
Bari Arrows and Elephant-spear. 112
Baris Stealing Cattle from the Garrison at Gondokoro. 113
African Drums. 115
The Nile below Afuddo. 116
A Nyam-Nyam Girl. 117
Entrance of the Lake. 118
Nyam-Nyam Warriors. 119
Elephant Coming to Drink. 121
Elephants Hunted in the Water. 123
The Navigable Nile above the Last Cataracts. 125
Saddle-donkeys. 126
Marching through the Bari Country. 127
Camp Scene. 129
One of the Cooks. 130
The Second Day's March. 131
Fishing Village in an African Lake. 133
Stampeding the Caravan. 134
Halting-place near a Pond. 135
Hippopotamus Attacking a Raft. 137
A Night Attack by a River-horse. 138
Tying Up Ivories for the March. 140
Removing a Village. 141
A Nyam-Nyam Dog. 142
Singular Head-dress of a Nyam-Nyam. 144
Hut for Boys. 145
A Nyam-Nyam Granary. 145
An Akka Warrior. 146
Dr. Schweinfurth's Pygmy. 147
Standing for his Portrait. 148
Crossing a Marsh. 149
A Wet Road. 150
A Snake in Camp. 152
Scene near Afuddo. 153
A Caravan of an Ivory-trader. 156
An Ivory Porter. 158
The Central African Steamer _Khedive_. 161
Winwood Reade's Ox and Hammock Train. 163
Near the Shore of the Lake. 165
Crossing a Small Stream. 166
An Attraction for a Hyena. 168
Attack in an Ambuscade. 170
Two of our Porters. 172
Antelope of the Shooli Country (Female). 173
Antelope of the Shooli Country (Male). 174
A Village Headman. 176
An African Magician Superintending the Slaughtering of an Ox. 177
A Native Ferry. 178
Net-hunting by the Shooli Tribe. 180
Driving Game before a Prairie Fire. 182
The River Bank. 184
Frank's Bird. 185
Rocky Hills. 185
Great Rock near the Camp. 186
Peculiar Table-rock in the Bari Country. 187
Baker's Battle with the Slave-dealers.--Charge of the
Egyptian Soldiers. 190
Crossing a Plain. 192
Fort Fatiko. 193
Ground-plan of the Fort. 194
View from the Rock-fort of Fatiko. 195
Camp where Captain Speke was Detained. 197
N'samma Antelope. 199
Charge of a Lioness. 201
A Dangerous Position. 204
Frank's Discovery: a "Rogue" Elephant. 206
Navigation under Difficulties. 208
An Unpleasant Acquaintance. 210
The Victoria Nile at Rionga's Island. 211
Interview between Baker Pacha and Rionga. 213
Water-bottle. 214
Gourds of different Shapes. 215
Lake Scene in Central Africa. 216
Scene on the Shores of Lake Tanganyika. 218
A Lake Village. 220
Lake Fishes of Central Africa. 221
A Fisherman Ready for Work. 222
A Fish-basket. 223
A Village Chief. 224
Native Heads. 225
On the Shore of the Lake. 226
An Island in the Lake. 228
A Flock of Cranes. 230
Fred's Second Prize. 231
A Pair of Kingfishers at Home. 232
Fish-eagle on a Hippopotamus Trap. 233
Central African Yam. 235
Potato and Yam Fields. 235
The Kilnoky. 236
Young Polypterus. 237
Lake Mohrya, with Villages. 238
A House in the Water. 239
Ideal Representation of a Swiss Lake-village. 240
Livingstone's House at Zanzibar. 241
David Livingstone. 242
Chuma and Susi. 244
Page from Livingstone's Last Journal. 246
The Last Mile of Livingstone's Journey. 248
Livingstone Entering the Hut where he Died. 249
Fording a Swollen River. 250
A Lion Killing Livingstone's Donkey. 251
"Goree," or Slave-stick. 252
Manner of Fettering a Gang of Slaves. 253
Slavers Avenging their Losses. 254
Quilimane, at the Mouth of the Zambesi. 255
View on the Navigable Part of the Zambesi. 257
The Great Falls of Mosi-oa-tunya. 259
Bird's-eye View of Mosi-oa-tunya. 261
Caravan Crossing a Plain. 263
Scene in an African Village. 264
Crossing a River on a Fallen Tree. 266
Goatsucker ("Cosmetornis Spekii"). 267
A Camp near the Hills. 269
Kawendé Surgery. 270
A Pair of Sham Demons. 272
An African Band of Music. 273
Sham Demons Ready for Business. 274
View on the Road. 276
The King's Residence. 277
Kabba Rega's Attack and Defeat. 279
Thatched Hut in Rionga's Village. 280
The Country Back from the River. 281
Crossing a River in Unyoro. 283
Effect of a Long Rain in Africa.--Animals Seeking Safety. 285
Sunset on Lake Tchad. 287
Scene on the Niger at Say. 288
View of Kabara, the Port of Timbuctoo. 289
Timbuctoo, from the Terrace of the House Occupied by Dr. Barth. 291
A Village on the Guinea Coast. 294
Scene near Lake Tchad. 295
An Amazon of Dahomey. 297
1, the Tsetse; 2, the same, Magnified; 3, its Proboscis. 299
Colonel Long's Battle at M'rooli. 301
Colonel Long's Companions at M'rooli. 302
A Group of Kidi Men. 303
A Substitute for the Horse. 304
Approaching Camp. 305
A Queen of Ugunda Dragged to Execution. 307
Kamrasi's First Lesson in the Bible. 308
Mountains in the Distance. 310
Villages in the Hilly Country. 312
Flag of Ugunda. 313
Long's First Visit to M'tesa. 315
Ugunda Boy. 316
View of M'tesa's Palace from Doctor Bronson's Zeriba. 318
A Warrior of Ugunda. 319
View of Rubaga from the Great Road. 320
A Reception at the Court of King M'tesa. 323
A Tree of Ugunda. 324
A Daughter of King M'tesa. 325
King of Ugunda Retiring. 327
Native of Ugunda, with Hunting Spear. 328
The King's Musicians. 329
Visitors in the Zeriba. 330
Captain Speke Attending a Review of the Ugunda Troops. 332
Henry M. Stanley. 335
On the Road to the Lake. 336
Ugunda Boat. 338
View of Murchison Creek. 339
Hills Back from the Lake. 340
"Elephant's Foot," or "Gouty-limbed," Tree. 341
Trees and Climbing Plants in Central Africa. 343
Charging a Retort in a Gas Factory. 345
Diagram of Gas-works. 346
Frank's Gas-retort. 347
Seeing the Show. 348
M'tesa's Idea for Crossing Africa. 350
Returning from an Excursion. 351
The King's Slaves Carrying Fuel and Cutting Rice. 353
An African Drum-corps. 354
Lake Scenery in Central Africa. 356
Kambari Fish. 357
Fred's Experiment in Cooking Fish. 359
On the Lake. 360
Jack. 361
Ripon Falls: the Nile Flowing Out of the Victoria N'yanza. 363
A Group of Hippopotami. 365
Ready for Business. 366
Trouble in the Rhinoceros Family. 367
Bad for the Dog. 368
Rhinoceros Heads. 369
Speke Delivering the Spoils of his Hunt to King Rumanika. 372
In Captivity. 373
Village and Villagers. 376
An Unpleasant Encounter. 377
Antelopes among the Marshes near Usavara. 380
Native of Unyamwezi. 382
Natives of the Islands. 384
Boats for Lake Navigation. 385
An African Soko. 386
Arms and Ornaments. 387
View of the Uplands in Karagué. 389
The _Lady Alice_, in Sections. 390
Native Village on the Gold Coast. 392
Cape Coast Castle. 394
Monrovia, Liberia. 395
Free Town, Sierra Leone. 396
A Street in Coomassie. 397
A Village in Ashantee. 398
"Young Guinea". 399
Fantee Gentleman and Soldier. 400
The Burning of Coomassie. 401
A Belle of the Guinea Coast. 402
View of Elmina, on the Gold Coast. 403
Native of Cape Colony. 405
Emigrating to the South African Wilderness. 406
The "March of Civilization." 407
Scene in the South African Diamond Mines. 409
Driving a Flock of Ostriches. 411
The Ostrich and its Hunters. 412
Hunting under Disadvantages. 415
What Fred hoped for. 416
The Ostrich's Natural Enemy. 417
One of the Guides. 419
A Royal Residence in Unyamwezi. 420
War Dance of Mirambo's Followers. 422
Natives Bringing Provisions for Sale. 423
A Protected Village. 425
The Zebra at Home. 426
An African Tembé. 428
Manyuema Hunters Killing Sokos. 429
Rocks by the Wayside. 431
Crossing a Stream. 432
Weapons of the Natives. 433
Man of Massi Kambi. 434
Hill-country near Mirambo's Capitol. 435
Porters and Woman and Child of Usagaru. 436
Hut at Kifuma. 437
Stanley's Voyage on the Livingstone.--Battle with the Natives. 439
Frank Pocock, Stanley's Companion on the Livingstone. 440
Stanley's Expedition Recuperated and Re-clad after Crossing the
"Dark Continent." 441
Trading Station on the West Coast of Africa. 443
Curious Head-dress. 444
The Height of Fashion. 445
The First Cataract of the Livingstone. 447
Stanley's Expedition Descending the Livingstone. 448
A Deserter Brought Back. 450
A Native Guard. 451
Said bin Amir's House. 452
Getting Ready for the Road. 454
Halting-place under a Sycamore. 455
A House in Unyamyembe. 456
Unyamwezi Heads. 457
Members of the Caravan. 458
Grinding Meal for Supper. 459
Storehouse for Grain. 460
An African Ferry. 461
Crossing a Plain. 462
A Pond by the Wayside. 464
Capturing a Leopard. 465
Ugogo Heads, with Distended Ears. 466
Women of Ubudjwa. 467
Crossing a River on a Fish-weir. 468
Camp on the Edge of the Makata Swamp. 469
View of Zanzibar from the Sea. 471
From Bagamoya to Zanzibar. 473
CHAPTER I.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE JOURNEY.--FROM CAIRO TO KOROSKO.
[Illustration: "THE CARRIAGE IS READY!"]
"The carriage is ready, gentlemen!"
"Has all the baggage been sent to the boat?"
"Yes, sir," was the reply; "all except the case of instruments that you
wished to keep with you."
"All right!" was the cheery response. "We are ready to start, and will
not keep the carriage waiting."
This conversation occurred on the veranda of a hotel at Cairo, the
capital of Egypt, and once renowned as the City of the Caliphs. The
first speaker was Ali, a bright boy of Abyssinian birth, and formerly a
slave, while the second was Doctor Bronson, a gentleman whose name is
familiar to all readers of "The Boy Travellers in the Far East." By his
side were Frank Bassett and Fred Bronson, the youths who were guided
through Asia by the good Doctor, and had made the journey to Egypt and
the Holy Land in his company.
[Illustration: FRED'S QUANDARY.]
Frank and Fred could hardly be called youths any longer, as Frank was
quite as tall as the Doctor, while Fred was only an inch or two less in
stature. The boys who set out one morning for Japan and China had now
grown to be young men; but Frank insisted that they were still boys, and
should so consider themselves till they had passed their majority. There
had been some badinage between them relative to that momentous period in
a young man's existence when he makes his first essay with a razor.
Frank had depicted his cousin seated in front of a mirror, uncertain
whether to shave or dye, while Fred had retorted with a caricature in
which a cat and a cream-jug had prominent places. We will comply with
the wishes of Frank and call them "boys" during the journey they are
about commencing.
[Illustration: THE FIRST SHAVE.]
The carriage drove rapidly along the broad street leading to Boolak, the
landing-place of the Nile steamboats, and frequently called the Port of
Cairo. The boys were familiar with the scenes of this busy thoroughfare
and paid little attention to them, as their thoughts were occupied with
the journey of which this ride was the beginning. As they passed the
Museum of Antiquities, Frank recalled to Fred their first visit to that
interesting place, and the delightful hours they had spent in studying
the souvenirs of Ancient Egypt. "If we were not pressed for time," he
added, "I would greatly like to stop there a little while, just to
refresh my memory."[1]
[1] For a description of the Museum at Boolak and the monuments of
Ancient Egypt, see "The Boy Travellers in Egypt and the Holy Land."
Published by Harper & Brothers, 1882.
The steamer was lying at the river-bank, and the smoke from her funnel
told that she was about ready for departure. As our friends stepped on
the deck of the boat they were met by their dragoman, who told the
Doctor that all the heavy baggage had been stowed below, while the light
articles needed on the voyage would be found in their cabins.
Consequently, our friends had little to do for the half-hour that
intervened before the departure of the steamer. The Doctor went to the
hold to give a glance at the bales and boxes deposited there, and then,
accompanied by Fred and Frank, made a tour of the cabins, to make sure
nothing had been forgotten. The dragoman was a trusty servant, but
Doctor Bronson had learned from practical experience that perpetual
vigilance is an important requisite for travelling in wild countries.
The Nile voyage was not a new one to our friends, and as the story of
their adventures has already been told in a previous volume, we will not
repeat them here. As we are in the land of the Arabian Nights we will
borrow the Enchanted Carpet and wish our friends at the landing-place at
Korosko, about half way between the first and second Cataracts of the
Nile.
"One, two, three, and here we are!"
It was early one forenoon when the steamboat stopped in front of
Korosko, and the youths were permitted to step to the shore. Abdul, the
dragoman, had arranged by telegraph with a merchant of Korosko for the
temporary storage of the baggage of the party and for a lodging-place
for the travellers, until camels could be obtained for their journey
over the Desert. The merchant was at the landing to meet them, with a
force of some thirty or more porters to place the baggage on shore and
carry it to his warehouse, a hundred yards away. In spite of the large
number of men it required several hours for landing, and storing
everything. A journey into the interior of Africa is a serious affair,
as the traveller requires a great many things which are not needed in
most other countries.
"We are going where there are few resources," said the Doctor to his
young friends weeks before, when they were making their plans for the
journey, "and unless we would suffer we must be well provided at
starting.
"First of all, we need money, just as we need it for travel in any other
country."
"Of course we do," said Frank; "but there are no bankers in Africa, and
our letters of credit will be of no use."
"But we can take plenty of gold and silver," said Fred, "and perhaps we
shall want a few camel-loads of copper coin."
"Even that will not answer," replied Doctor Bronson, with a smile, "as
the coin of civilized lands is unknown in Africa."
"What must we carry, then," Frank asked, "if bankers' credits are of no
use, and coin does not circulate?"
"We must carry the money of Africa," was the reply, "and here it is."
Frank took the sheet of paper the Doctor held in his hand and read aloud
to his cousin:
"'Beads of different kinds and colors, put up and labelled, so that the
contents of each package can be known at a glance. Every tribe of
negroes in Africa has tastes of its own, and beads that find ready
circulation in one region are worthless in another.
"'Cotton cloths of different kinds, white, gray, striped, and in all the
colors and combinations of the rainbow.
"'Gaudy handkerchiefs, and the gaudier they are the better for purposes
of trade. In packing them for transportation they should be placed in
the bales with the cloths, which should also be made up in assorted
lots, so that when a bale is opened several kinds of goods may be
displayed.
"'Pocket-mirrors, copper wire, in rolls and of different sizes; small
tools, fish-hooks, cheap watches, brass jewellery, mechanical toys,
sleigh-bells, knives, hatchets, and other edged tools that can be easily
carried and handled.'"
"Something to amuse the natives is next on the list," the Doctor
remarked, as Frank paused for a moment, "and it is often of great
advantage to amuse them."
"'A dozen musical boxes of small size, and one large one, playing
several tunes,'" continued Frank, reading from the paper.
"I suppose the small ones are for presents," said Fred, "and the large
one is to be exhibited on great occasions, when we have company?"
"Exactly so," replied the Doctor; "it will be a convenient means of
entertaining savages, especially when we cannot converse with them. You
observe that I have included in the list of desirable things a
magic-lantern and a telephone, with half a mile of wire and all the
apparatus complete. They are easy to carry, and their performances will
be as interesting as those of the music-boxes."
"'Cloth, beads, caps, tools, toys, and trinkets are what we need for
traffic with the natives and paying our expenses,"' read Frank as he
turned the sheet of paper. "Now we come to what we want for our own
use."
[Illustration: CAMP AND CARAVAN.]
"'Tea and coffee, in air-tight cans of not more than a pound each, so
that they will not be spoiled by the climate: preserved meats and
vegetables, sugar, spices, pepper, sauces, vinegar, matches, soap,
candles, and a few other things, the fewer the better. Everything we
carry must be enclosed in tin cases, so as to protect it from dampness,
as the climate of Central Africa is ruinous to all articles that absorb
moisture.
"'Rifles, shot-guns, and pistols, with plenty of ammunition. The rifles
and shot-guns of the Remington system, using fixed ammunition.'"
One of the boys asked what was meant by "fixed ammunition."
"The cartridges are made up," the Doctor explained, "and are all ready
for use. The powder is in a shell of copper or brass, with the explosive
cap in one end and the bullet or shot firmly wedged in the other. The
cartridges are impervious to water, and can be kept a long time without
detriment."
"We must have a large quantity," said Frank, "and even then we might
find our supply running short, with no chance of renewal."
"Certainly that might happen," was the reply, "and we can guard against
it by having a few dozens of steel shells made like the copper ones, and
with nipples for ordinary percussion-caps. These shells can be reloaded
many times. We can carry powder in tin canisters, caps in boxes, and
moulds for casting bullets, and then, with a few bars of lead in our
possession, we shall be independent of fixed ammunition from the
factories.
"We will have one heavy rifle, carrying a very large ball, for shooting
elephants, and a special supply of ammunition to fit it. The rest of the
rifles will be all alike, so that there will be no trouble about getting
hold of the wrong ammunition when starting out for a day's hunt. The
same will be the case with the shot-guns, and we will observe a similar
rule in regard to the revolvers."
Frank next read a list of medicines intended for the maladies to which
human nature is ordinarily liable. Last and greatest of all was
"sulphate of quinine." The quantity seemed altogether out of proportion
to the rest of the stock, and he naturally asked Doctor Bronson why he
carried so much of it.
"Africa is a land of fevers," replied the Doctor, "and has a bad
reputation among travellers on this account alone. The equatorial rains
make the climate exceedingly moist, and the exhalations from the soil
are detrimental to the health of all Europeans. We shall be likely to
suffer from fevers, and you know that quinine is the great remedy for
fever. It has saved many a life, and its absence has caused many a
death. When we begin our journey we must each of us carry a small supply
of the drug in our pockets, and be ready to use it intelligently. Each
must be able to administer it to the other; and our personal servants
should be instructed how to act whenever they see us suffering from the
hot-blooded visitor. We will have more talk on this subject when we
approach Central Africa."
Then came a list of clothing, tents, camp equipage, and kindred things
that would be needed. Frank remarked that Africa must be a land of rain,
or they would not require so many water-proof garments, and Fred added
that it was not as hot as it was reputed to be, or they would not carry
so many blankets. The Doctor explained that in the elevated regions of
Africa the nights were almost always cool, even though the days might be
sultry, and the traveller who ventured there without plenty of warm
covering was liable to suffer.
The last entry on the paper was, that no package should weigh more than
fifty pounds. Fred asked the reason for this rule, as he had understood
a camel could carry seven or eight hundred pounds' burden without
difficulty, provided he was in good condition and of full size.
"That is true," said Doctor Bronson, "but we can't go all the way with
camels. In the interior of Africa our baggage must be carried by
porters; and the load for a man is limited to sixty pounds, and ought
not to exceed fifty. Of course it sometimes happens that elephants'
tusks and other articles weigh more than sixty pounds, but for such
burdens the strongest men are selected, and a higher price is usually
paid.
[Illustration: A GROUP OF PORTERS.]
"These porters are known as 'pagazi,' and are a necessary adjunct of
every expedition in the interior of Africa. Sometimes it is impossible
to procure a sufficient number, and the traveller may be delayed weeks
or months while waiting for them. On the road they must be watched very
carefully, to see that they do not desert with their burdens; and, in
order to prevent this, the rear of a caravan must be brought up by a
trusty guard. A great part of the troubles of all African explorers is
due to the pagazi, and more than one expedition has been completely
broken up by their misconduct.
"Sometimes they desert in a body, and the traveller who has gone to
sleep, with a hundred or more porters in his employ, has risen in the
morning to find his camp deserted and not a man to be found. In this
dilemma he must wait till new porters can be hired, or he may be obliged
to destroy a large part of his goods."
"Wouldn't it be possible for him to sell them to some of the native
chiefs in such an emergency, instead of destroying them?" one of the
boys inquired.
"Perhaps he could do so," the Doctor answered; "but he would obtain a
very small price for them, as the chiefs would know he was in a great
strait and must be rid of them. Such a practice would encourage
desertions, as the local chiefs would be in collusion with the porters,
and no traveller could get through in safety. It is an invariable rule
with the Portuguese and Arab traders in Central Africa to destroy all
goods that they are unable to carry by reason of the desertion of their
pagazi. It is their only way of insuring themselves against certain loss
in future journeys, and they are very particular in observing it."
Frank asked if they were to have any scientific instruments, such as
were usually carried by explorers in strange countries. Doctor Bronson
replied that they would certainly do so, but he had not yet made out his
list of what would be wanted.
"For the first part of our journey," said the Doctor, "we shall be in a
region that has been explored sufficiently, so that its principal
geographical positions are known, and there will be very little occasion
for instruments. But later on our route will be much like a voyage on
the ocean, and we must find out 'by observation,' as the navigators say,
where we are. For this purpose we can imagine that we are going on a
ship, and must have the instruments that a ship usually carries."
"I understand," said Fred. "We will have a quadrant or a sextant for
ascertaining the position of the sun, just as a captain does at sea. But
will the irregular line of the land serve us for a horizon, as the line
between sea and sky serves the mariner?"
"Certainly not," answered the Doctor, with a smile; "and to meet this
difficulty we employ the artificial horizon."
"How is it made?" one of the youths inquired.
"It is a very simple affair," the Doctor answered; "it is nothing but a
horizontal mirror, and is constructed in two or three ways. It may be an
ordinary mirror or looking-glass, in a frame adjusted upon screws and
set round with spirit-levels, so that it can be brought to the proper
position, or it may be a basin of mercury. A tub of water may be made to
answer in an emergency, but it is not easy to get a reflection from it
of sufficient distinctness for purposes of observation. With the
artificial horizon and a sextant the altitude of the sun or of a star
may be readily obtained. Half the angular distance between a star and
its image in the artificial horizon is equal to the altitude of a star
above the real horizon."
"But there's another trouble," said Frank. "At sea the navigator knows
the run of his ship by means of the log, as we learned when we crossed
the Pacific Ocean in our journey to Japan and China. How are we to
'throw the log' when travelling on land?"
"That is an easy matter," was the reply. "We will have several
pedometers, or instruments for counting the steps. They are about the
size of an ordinary watch, and worn in the pocket in the same way. Every
step taken by the wearer is registered, and by knowing the length of our
steps we can get very near the distance travelled. The pedometer is only
approximative, and not exact, and the same is the case with the log on a
ship.
[Illustration: DR. SCHWEINFURTH ASCENDING THE NILE.]
"A famous African explorer, Dr. Schweinfurth, once had the misfortune to
lose his instruments and all the records of his journey by fire. For six
months after that calamity he counted his footsteps, noting hundreds by
means of his fingers, and making a stroke in his note-book on reaching
five hundred. The second five hundred was recorded by making a reverse
stroke on the previous one, so as to form a cross, and in this way at
the end of a day's journey every thousand steps he had taken was shown
by a cross. He thus made account of a million and a quarter paces in the
six months that he continued the practice.
"Dr. Schweinfurth says that the steps of a man are a more accurate
standard of measurement than those of an animal. The camel, when urged
to its full speed, does not increase the number of his paces but their
length; while those of a man, at whatever rate he walks, are about the
same. He suggests that any one may satisfy himself on this point by
measuring his own footsteps in moist ground. He will find them varying
very little, no matter what the rate of speed. Dr. Schweinfurth says his
steps varied, according to the nature of the road, from twenty-four to
twenty-eight inches, and we may set this down as the average step of a
man of medium height.
[Illustration: AN AFRICAN HORIZON.]
"In addition to sextants and pedometers, we will have a complete
apparatus for taking photographs, with plenty of dry plates, sensitive
paper, and the other necessary materials; then we must have a stock of
compasses, barometers, and thermometers; and we must not forget an
anemometer, an instrument for measuring the force of the wind. One of
our compasses must be an azimuth, which resembles the marine compass,
but has a more accurate graduation, and is provided with vertical
sights, so that the variation of the needle may be detected. This is
done by observing the position of a star through the sights, and
comparing its azimuth, or point on the horizon, with the direction of
the needle. The position of the star being known, the computation is
easy."
Doctor Bronson explained that the instruments, tents, fire-arms, and
personal outfits could not be procured in Egypt, but must be ordered
from London or Paris. The bulk of the provisions might be obtained in
Cairo or Alexandria, but the character of the supplies could not always
be relied upon. Consequently it was decided to make the list as complete
as possible and ship everything from the English and French capitals, so
that they would not be delayed at Cairo. Of course there would be some
deficiencies, and these could be filled from the Cairo market before the
date of departure. The plan was carried out without accident.
We have seen our friends on their way to Central Africa, and have now
landed them safely at Korosko.
[Illustration: A VILLAGE IN "THE DARK CONTINENT."]