Joobi.
Elephas Africanus. Leteb.
Rhinoceeros bicornis. Oomooga.
Felis leo. Lobohr.
Felis leopardes. Quatch.
Wild dog, probably (Lycaon pietus). Orara.
Jackal. Roodi.
Hyana crocata. Laluha.
Manis Temminckii. Mooak.
Hystrix ap. Cho.
Viverra genetta. Gnonge.
Felis caracal. Quorra.
Herpsales striatus. Juang.
Struthio cameles. Oodo.
Leptoptilus crumenfirus. Kiaoom.
Hyrax ap. Dooka.
Aulacodus Swindernianus, or great reed-rat Neeri.
Eupodoles sp. Apido.
Nemida meleugris (?) Owino.
Francolinus sp. (?) Aweri.
The zebra exists in the Shooli country, but is very rare. Hippopotami
are to be found in the Asua river.
On the borders of the White Nile we find the Cervicapra megaceros and
the beautiful Damalis Senegalensis, which I had supposed was a new
species when I first secured it on the banks of the Bahr Giraffe.
Nothing new has been actually discovered during the expedition, and
there can be nothing existing as an animal that is not well known to the
natives, with whom I constantly associated; therefore there is little
hope of unknown species, excepting the wild dog known by the Shooli as
"Orara."
The botanical collection, made entirely by Lady Baker, was handed to the
Khedive of Egypt, therefore I regret that I cannot describe it.
LIBERATED SLAVES.
Upon arrival at Gondokoro with our party, we were shortly visited by the
Bari father of little Cuckoo, who had travelled seven hundred miles with
us. In a year and a half Cuckoo had grown immensely, and being in a good
suit of clothes, he was with difficulty recognized by his savage-looking
parent, who had parted with him as a naked, ash-smeared little urchin of
between six and seven years old.
I am sorry to say that Cuckoo did not meet his father with an
affectionate embrace, but at first positively refused to go with him;
and when compelled to accompany him as a prodigal son and wanderer, he
dug his knuckles into his eyes and began to cry. Poor little Cuckoo knew
that the days of beef and good cooking had passed away. He expressed his
determination to run away from his father and to return to us; but as
his home was on the west bank of the Nile, we never saw Cuckoo again.
The boys and young women whom I had liberated from the slave-hunters,
and who had acted as domestic servants, were well cared for at the close
of the expedition, and I secured them situations with well-known
respectable families in Cairo and Alexandria. Amarn, the Abyssinian boy,
who in intelligence had been far in advance of the negro lads,
accompanied his mistress to England at his express request, where he is
now regularly installed in our own household. The ulcerated leg from
which he had suffered for two years in Africa, was soon cured by the
kind attention of the surgeons of St. George's Hospital, shortly after
his arrival in London. (Amarn has now grown into a young man of about
18 or 19. He is a Christian, and in general good conduct and integrity
he has set a bright example to English servants and is respected by all
classes.)
A FEW HINTS.
I shall give the following hints as they occurred to me, and as I noted
them down at the time when in Africa: -
Medicine Chest. - Should be of teak, covered with zinc, with copper edges
and corners. The bottom should be first covered externally, to enable
the wet to drain off without touching the wood. The expensive canteens
purchased of Messrs. Silver and Co., although covered with metal on the
top and sides, had no metal beneath; thus they were a prey to damp and
insects.
All bottles in medicine chest should have numbers engraved on the glass
to correspond with an index painted on the inside of the lid. Insects
and damp quickly destroy gilding or ordinary paper labels.
Seidlitz powders and all effervescent medicines should be packed in
wide-mouthed, stoppered bottles, but never in papers.
Matches. - Bryant and May's "Victoria Matches" will stand the damp of the
tropics beyond all others.
Tarpaulins. - Should be true mackintosh; but no other preparation of
india-rubber will stand the heat of the tropics. No. 2 canvas painted is
better than any preparation of tar, which sticks when folded together.
All tarpaulins should be 12 feet square, with large metal eyelet holes
and strong lines. If larger, they are too heavy.
Bottles. - All wine or liquor bottles should have the necks dipped in
bottle-wax thickly. Metallic capsules will be bitten through and the
corks destroyed by cockroaches.
Milk. - Crosse and Blackwell's "liquid cream" is excellent. That of the
Anglo-Swiss Company was good at the commencement, but it did not keep
sweet after two years.
Shoes and Boots. - Shoes are better than laced boots, as the latter give
much trouble. The soles should not be too thick, and should be studded
with sharp nails. Two pairs of long, brown leather boots to reach above
the knee are useful for riding. All shoes should be kept in light canvas
bags, tightly tied at the mouth to protect them from insects.
Dry Stores. - Should all be hermetically sealed, and great care should be
observed in soldering the tin cases. - This is frequently neglected, and
the result of careless soldering is ruin to all biscuits, flour, sago,
macaroni, &c.
Ammunition. - All cartridges should be taken from England loaded; and for
private use they should be hermetically sealed in boxes containing one
hundred each if small, or fifty if large.
Five hundred snider cartridges, in teak boxes lined with soldered tin,
weigh 64 lbs. each, and can be carried on the journey by one native.
Casks of wood are unsuited for African travel; small beetles perforate
them. Galvanized iron flattened kegs are useful for carrying water
through the desert. For camels which carry four casks they should
contain ten gallons each; for mules, eight gallons.
Plates, &c. - All plates, cups, saucers, dishes, &c., should be enamelled
on metal.
