From the Congo to the Niger and the Nile; An Account of the German Central African Expedition of 1910-1911 Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 edition. Excerpt: ...past made a most gorgeous picture, and when the entire cavalry charged at full gallop, the enthusiasm of the onlookers knew no bounds. The next morning the sad news spread through the town that the sultan's mother had died during the night, and the court was plunged into mourning. After supper we brewed some New Year's Eve punch, Professor Haberer assuming the office of cupbearer. We sat together under the starry sky of Central Africa, drinking one another's health, and thinking of our loved ones at home. At midnight three salutes were fired, and rockets shot up into the sky. At six o'clock on New Year's morning our baggage was shipped across the Logone, and at seven, we said good-bye to the sultan, and followed. After crossing the river, we mounted our horses, and rode for some time through a flat, sparsely-wooded country. Gradually the bush grew thicker, and tamarinds and thorny acacia shut out the view. At eleven o'clock we encamped near the Kanuri village, Aisambuli. The following morning, having started as usual before daylight, we shot a few gazelles and francoUna, but failing to find the latter, and not wanting to lose them altogether, we set fire to the long grass. This brought to light a gigantic puff-adder, the most venomous snake in Africa, which we fortunately succeeded in killing with a stick. At the village of Kalchoa we received a letter from von Wiese telling us that his companion, SergeantMajor Roder, had fallen ill with black water fever. He had accordingly been landed at Mandjafa and Sergeant-Major Draheim had been asked to take his place. Haberer set out the very same night, and by eleven o'clock the following morning he was at the patient's bed-side. Apart from the serious nature of the illness, which we all sincerely...