MRS SHELDON IN AFRICA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3103, 4 June 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

MRS SHELDON IN AFRICA.

WnEX Mrs Sheldon arrived at New York fresh from strange adventures in East Africa and laden with curious of the savage people there, she had to undergo tho inevitable interview. Mrs Sheldon says that the stories of Stanley and Du Chaillu first caused, her desire to visit the Dark Continent. She ftnrted on her expedition from Zanzibar, having firi-t engafred a retinue of 13S persons, all blacks. Among the officers of the uaravan there was no white man. She marched at the hear, uf this force and was the sole eommamder. Way was first made to Mouibassa, and then tho journey continued for 30.0 miles through pathless juiijj-les. As slio arrived in the territory occupied by tho different tribfes Mrs Sheldon says she always tent for the chief and had a conference in a tent. On thesxe occasions she would always ar>'ay herself in full court dress aa she would appear if presented to Queen Vietorin. The fact, together with the cirenmsttmecs that *he was tho first whito wom:tn the natives ever saw, caused great awv and wondermi'ut, uud she was always aibwrd to pasj unmolested. "I did not g-o to Africa for purposes nf scientific researches," said Mrs Sheldon. "I wont rot her to study, the social condition of tiie people, particularly of the wornou and children. I observed their social dos and don'ts, and, of course, found much that was reprehensible in their dos, from our standpoint. Still you must not teach people tho tenets of religion before you buy clothw. Most of tue men were nude and mine were very ferocious Still, I found them expert smiths and used to call them my swarthy vulcuns. They are, also, wonders at tanning- hides, and understand irrigating the noii, eve.i on the crests of mountains. At the various sliauri, or conferences that I had with the chiefs, I was often presented with ten cows. One cow if ii royul gift, so I was ten times royal." Mrs Sheldon did not say what she did with the cows. '' Of oourse a pernon should not sro into Africa expecting- to find things in accordance with a civilization of a thousand years' duration. I fouud tho people ready to laugh. Id fact, I called them ray laugh - ing primitives. At last we arrived at an extinct volcano, far down in the crater of which wan a lake regarded as inaccessible to any human being. Accompanied by a Scotchman, who was hunting- in the neighbourhood, I descended a precipice 3i59 feet hig-h. It wus a frightful undertaking. Then my fo lowers got down with two smalt pontoon boats or crafts. There ive launched. The lake wa* known as 'Chain,' and whs said to huvo no bottom. With a lino 150 feet loujr attached to a lead we could fine noue. S ion we were surrounded by crocodiles and monkeys, There were

choppy waves »n the lake. It wan fed by the eternal snow of the mountains and by springs. I be'iovo the waves were duo to the rushing of the lake's waters through oonie mighty subterranean cavern. The water •f the lake, which is three miles longr ar.d four wide, is perfectly pure tind the side are of lava. The natives believe thu waters are moved by the troubled spirits of the ancient Masai tribe, which is said to have been bodily thrown into the air by a volcanic eruption. Arrangements are being , made iu England to havo tho mystery of the lake cleared up" Mrs Sheldon docribed how once, while crossing a, chasm, the natives dropped ber ohair and let her fall into the water sixty feet below. She said that her expedition jad uost her a large sum, as she had to curry much extra luirgago for emergencies. She will publish a book on her adventures. It will appear sinutltaneously in America and in It may bo eallud "JJohe Bvvaiia," African words for " Thu woman, master."