Through, Africa on A Bicycle.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 April 1911, Page 4

Through, Africa on A Bicycle.

ENGLISHMAN'S 5700-MILE

JOURNEY

Two young Englishmen have recently finished one of tho most remarkable journeys ever made in Africa. Mr Frank ii. Melland and Mr E. H. Cholmeloy, both assistant magistrates- in the service of the British South Africa Company in North-Eastern Rhodesia, .started last July from their stations with two bicycles to go through tho heart of Africa to Cairo. They arrived at Cairo on January 19th, having travelled 5700 miles' in 170 <kys. Mr Cltolmcley arrived in England on Sunday. "Melland and I met on July 21th last year at K.isama, North-Eastern Rhodesia," said Mr Gliolincley recently. "For fifty-one days we walked and bicycled through German East Africa towards the Victoria Nyanpa. "We ran across some interesting people during this part of our ourncy. One of the "Rukwa Valley tribes we found has a ruling caste of totally different origin to theinThis caste appears to be of the Galla stock from Abysinnia, and until recently observed the same etiquette as pre-vaile din the families of the ancient Pharaohs of Egypt. For instance, they could only marry their own sisters. "The sport in parts of German East Africa is splendid. Tn two days on the Ugalla river we sawfifteen or sixteen different species of I game and wild beasts. Throe times i we were visited by lions, but they were not bold enough to attack our big camp. "The natives in this northern corner of Uganda treated us extraordinarily well. One chief electriiicd us by trotting out a small cadet corps, all quite naked boA's, ranging from ten to twelve. They had a cavalry bugle and two side-drums, and wore commanded, by a youngsfer who put them tlirough the ordinary motions of company drill almost without a mistake. "After walking and bicycling through Uganda we arrived at Gondokoro the day after Christmas. There we sold our bicycles and kit and took a Nile river steamer to Khartoum and thence to Cairo."