A WOMAN IN THE WILDERNESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 227, 30 October 1909, Page 3

A WOMAN IN THE WILDERNESS.

WHAT MISS MANSFIELD MET IX DARKEST AFRICA. ' Well, I've learned the meaning of the expression 'hanging oil by the back tmh.'" The speaker was .Miss Charlotte Man-:-fitld, Hie charming and talented lady who has just returned from an adventurous journey through Central Africa, and she was giving an "'Answers" representative an account of lier experien cs. ■ Vou see, I'm not at all brave,'' continued Miss Mauslield, "and ever since I can remember I have been frightened iti the dark. Judge, then, my sensations when I found myself under canvas io" the first time in my life, and realised that 1 was alone in the Africau wilderness, guarded only by strange native 'boys,' my dog, and my camp-fires. And I had heard disquieting accounts of a tendency the natives have to desert at awkward junctures. BEARDING THE LIONS.

"My fears were not lessened by the' sickly cm* ut prowling hyenas; and before my MO miles' inarch from Broken Hill to Abcrcoru was over I suffered still greater trvmurs from occasionally hearing the grunt, grunt of a lion keep time wiih the pad, pad or its paws. "One whole night I passed in terror in a small tuuse built by a white man, who had subsequently deserted it, while outside iftion did sentry go, my 'boys' ha v. in® retired to their camp. I covered up the windows of my appropriated shelter as best I could witli the materials to hand—a map and a Union Jack—and sat shivering, with only my dog to keep me company, listening to the beast's growls. When day dawned .the brute took himself off, but my vigil had partly turned my hair grey. "I had, on another oceasion, an encounter with a young lion, with no walls between us. and it is not an experience I should be at all anxious to repeat. "I was out walking with my little dog j a short distance from camp when the creature appeared suddenly on the scene, and I had a moment of horrible fear before, to my great relief, the lion turned aside and made off., NOT TO MENTION ELEPHANTS.

"One uuruuig, wilt'll 1 linned out, a» usual, about nve o clocK, 1 lound some excitement among the natives. And no wonder! All around and quite close to the teut was the. spoor 01 clepuau.o wliich Had passed oa their way to the water, flow Uianklui. I was tnat none o: them had blundered against oi turougn the irail structure! ■'There was one otlier frequent source of dreamt to me wliicn 1 have not vet mentioned—namely, the crossing ot rivers aid swamps, ily beaters would cany me over m a niachila,' a hammock swung on a pole, ivun one man at each end, and, though the actual bearers were supported by others on either side, I was ill cohstant lear of falling into the rainswollen waters. To keep from giving myself away to the natives by screaming out i had to requisition all my reserves of fortitude.

"When we arrived at a native 'village it was a nevei'iaumg source of delight to me to watch my 'boys' bartering with the village women for tflifneceesary supplies of meal. "Each week X had to give my 'boyv two and a-half yards of 'limbo'—thin calico, blue or white, the latter being preferred—worth about S l / s i or 9d. With aalf a yard of limbo,' a large basket o." meal could be bought; and, though money is accepted, 'limbo' is preferred, being tjie only clothing the villagers can get, except a coarse {loth made from tree-bark.

"At several of the villages X bouglt curios for myself, and generally I purchased some 'cuckoos' and eggs. 'Cuckoos' "arc small fowls, about the size of the English bantam, and could bj bough, at three fo r one shilling, and the egge were proportionately small and cheap. "Before leaving the subject of camping, I may mention that 1 always slept with my rifle hy'my side and my revolver . under mj* pillow, in ease of emergency. As it was -winter, the nights and early mornings .were icy cold, necessitating warm furs for comfort; while in the' middle of the day it was so hot that 1 had to wear a sun-helmet. "Whan I publish my book on Rhodesia,; I intend to-give fhll particulars of alii matters interesting to intending or proj. i peetive emigrants from this country. 11 may say that the possibilities of the couutry delighted me. * ROSY RHODESIA. "take North-Eastern Rhodesia. The

chances of a man who is not in a hurry to get rich in live minutes are splendid - - that is, the chances oi a healthy, happy, and, ultimately, prosperous life. His gun and his garden wUI go a long way supplying his wants for the lirst year oi two, and it he is content to wait he win have a beautiful home and farni by-and by" 'What capital is necessary?" "Well, one man 1 met started with £SO, and leased 100 head of cattle frou the (Joverimieiit. After seven years hi has now 750 head of cattle of his own, and a beautiful farm to boot.. "But don't let it be forgotten that in this part of the country there is no rail way, and progress is slow and steady, j Those wishing quicker returns must gc to Southern Rhodesia, where there is railway communication with the mac k'ts. FEVER OR "FLUE"? "My original intention was to journey overland all the way to Cairo, [sleeping ' sickness beyond, however, stopped me on tne borders of British territory, and j had to alter my route, eventually reaci ing the coast at Chiude. To get there - I bad to travel a good distance by boats along the rivers Shire and Zamoesi. Through Uike Nyassa I voyaged on tiii Government gunboat, by permission o. Hie governor. "l'rom Chinde I wa§ content to continue my journey to Cairo on board the lironprinz, for 1 was completely worn out with fever."