226 



THE MUSEUM. 



the desert plains called the Hands, re- 

 quiring a five days' journey without 

 water, reaching Tug Turfa, where 

 game of various kinds exists in abun- 

 dance. This route never yet has been 

 traversed by human beings, and the 

 professor was conservative enough to 

 say that he might have to abandon it 

 for another. At all events. Tug Turfa 

 was the objective point, and there he 

 anticipated the addition of valuable 

 specimens. From there the expedi- 

 tion would go south to the River She- 

 begli, crossing in the neighborhood of 

 Irne, about 6 degrees north latitude, 

 with a view to entering the unexplored 

 country in the angles between the Juba 

 and Dan rivers. This territory has 

 never been disturbed and is a sort of 

 no man's land between rival tribes. 

 Many rare animals are supposed to 

 roam unmolested there, and no doubt 

 some new specimens will be secured. 

 The route from there was probleinati 

 cal. 



Probably the party's return to Ber- 

 bera will not be recorded until Sep- 

 tember or October, as the professor's 

 purpose is to stop wherever he di^cov- 

 ers the animals. One of his chief de- 

 sires is to penetrate the Shebegli for 

 zebra and across the Juba for giraffes, 

 elephants and other laige animals. 



Writing from Aden, at a later date, 

 the professor e.Npresses gratification at 

 the progress made, as well as upon 

 the selection of the district for opera- 

 tions. The warlike demonstrations in 

 other portions of Africa caused the 

 party to pursue the course mapped out. 



"A few year.-^ more," writes the 

 leader of the expedition, "the game is 

 liable to be wi[)ed out of existence, 

 and, had we delayed another twehc 



months in getting started, I fear it 

 would have been too late. I have 

 been received most courteously by the 

 authorities of this military post, and 

 every assistance has been afforded me, 

 while I have received full authority to 

 collect spec. mens even on the resever- 

 vation — so called — a tract of land 

 eighty milts wide near the coast in the 

 British protectorate. The Indian war 

 office established and maintains this 

 reservation as a sort of preserve fur 

 British officers. The expedition is de- 

 signed to serve a double purpose from 

 this time on — the oiiginal one, with 

 which the world is acquainted, and the 

 thought that I may send reports of the 

 probable extinction of the game which 

 will enable them to enact and enforce 

 stringent laws wh> rever British author- 

 ity in Africa extends To augment 

 this laudable object shall be my aim." 

 The writer advises that he has 

 slightly changed his programme, and 

 intends going to the wi d ass country, 

 a short distance down the coast, this 

 being practically the only lucaliiy 

 where this animal can be foiiml, after 

 which he will follow the route near the 

 Juba and Dan rivers. This change 

 was made because it was his desire to 

 hunt elephants, rhinoceros, giraffes 

 an- 1 1.1 her large animals Wni'e hie men 

 and camels were fresi). Besides, this 

 jirograiiime weiuld not coinpel him to 

 carry heavy loads of specimens into 

 the interior and pack them back to the 

 coas' country. Like the gond hunter 

 that tlie professor is he will endeavor 

 to reach the farthere--t point and then 

 btgiii to lend up for the return trip. 

 The spe-cimens he obtains near Ber- 

 bera will be left there for his return or 

 shipped to the museum if opportunity 

 offers. 



