ACROSS CENTRAL AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 324, 10 June 1911, Page 9

ACROSS CENTRAL AFRICA.

SEARCHING FOR TRACES OF PREHISTORIC ANIMALS.

6000 MILES' JOURNEY. Lieutenant Graetz, i the young exofficer of tho German army who intends to cross the African Continent from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean by motor-boat, has now arrived at Quilimane, in Portuguese East Africa, the starting point of his trans-continental voyage. The most interesting part of his vovage will be along the Chambesi rive'r, long stretches of which are still unexplored, and Lake Banguelo. This mysterious lake is surrounded for many miles by dense growths of reeds, which render access from the shores extremely difficult, and none of the natives of the surrounding country have ever ventured upon its waters. In their minds it is associated with many strange legends, some believing that it is a kind of Hades, where departed souls wander for punishment, while others look upon it as the approach to Paradise, where their dead relatives ami friends enjoy an ideal existence under the protection of their deities. Tho preliminary preparations for this voyage, which will be 6000 miles in length, consisted of sending stores to 20 different places en route by native carriers. At each of these stations Lieutenant Graetz will find meat and fruit preserves, butter, jam, salt and pepper, Hour and rices, vinegar, oil, soap and sausages (he is a good German), tinned milk, mustard, cakes, preserved cucumbers, pates de fois gras, chocolate, matches, and candles. From this list it will be seen that he does not intend to deny himself all the luxuries of life during his arduous undertaking. At each of the stations he will also find the following beverages:— Six bottles of cognac, five bottles of white beer, a Berlin speciality, five bottles of lager beer, five bottles of champagne, ten bottles of mineral waters, five tins of coffee, five tins of cocoa, and two tins of tea. The following miscellaneous stores are also awaiting him at each of the 20 places: 100 cigars, 100 cigarettes, two bags of tobacco, two bottles of dentifrice, one medicine chest, 100 Mausov cartridges (9mm,), MOO hunting cartridges of three different fisea, ten Browning cartridges, 400 meters of cinematograph films, chemicals requisite for developing .the films, and oil for the motor. Lienteoaiit Graetz, wh.Q revealed remarkable resources and courage in many trying situations on his last journey across the African continent in a motor-car, is a firm believer in peaceful methods of dealing with the natives, i aiul never resorts to violence unless I driven to do so by tho extreme necesi sities of self-defence. He carries with him a plentiful supply of fireworks, which he employs to frighten natives who molest his expedition, most of whom regard the wheels and strange figures of flame as supernatural productions, which demonstrate that the explorer is a kind of deity. The explorer also carries with him various conjuring apparatus, by means of which lie will also impress the natives with a due sense of his superhuman qualities. One of his simplest tricks is carried out with the help of a glass eye. Pretending to take out one of his eyes, he holds his hand over the supposed cavity, while ho exhibits in the other hand the glass eye, and the natives readily believe that it is one of his own. Pretending to replace it in the supposed cavity, he redoubles his hold on their imagination and superstition. He uses many kinds of cheap clothes, false jewellery, and other simple ornaments as articles of exchange, and his cigarettes and cigars are also chiefly destined for this purpose, as they arc eagerly sought by the natives, who readily give large quantities of provisions in return for these luxuries. Lieutenant Graetz'* motor-boat is 25ft. long and sft. Oin. in beam, with n draught of I6in., and is equipped with a 10-li.p. motor. Lieutenant Graetz acts as his own navigator and chauffeur. and is accompanied by one European cinematograph operator and four natives. On arriving at unnavigable waters, and at the watershed in the centre of the continent, the motor-boat will be placed on wheels and pushed over the ground by the four natives, a specially constructed axlo having been provided for this purpose. Lieutenant Graetz's undertaking is interesting, not only as a magnificent sporting enterprise, but also on account of the exploration of districts hitherto impenetrated by Europeans. Lieutenant Graetz believes that traces of prehistoric animals may be found in some of the regions near the river Luapula and Lake Meru. and that there may be interesting new discoveries of fauna and flora.