CHAPTER IX. 



SEVERAL Notable: Mkn Accompanied Col. Roose:ve:lt. — Scien- 

 tific Experts Propose the Animals Secured for the 

 Smithsonian Institution — Roosevelt's Expedition 

 — Roosevelt and the Missionaries — Africa the Last of 

 THE Heathen Countries Invaded by the Missionaries — 

 Christianity in North Africa Long Before Christ. 



'T^HREE months before President Roosevelt's term expired he 

 -*■ authorized those in charge of the Smithsonian Institution to 

 issue an official statement in regard to his proposed expedition to 

 Africa. On December 5th Charles Walcott, Secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, gave out the statement which announced 

 to the world the President's intentions. 



It told us that Col. Roosevelt would sail late in March as the 

 head of a Scientific Expedition to Africa, outfitted by the Smith- 

 sonian Institution. The purpose of the expedition was to gather 

 Natural History materials for the government collections, to be 

 deposited by the Smithsonian Institution in the new United States 

 National Museum at Washington. 



Besides the President and his son, Kermit, the personnel of 

 the party, on leaving New York, consisted of three representatives 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, as follows : 



Major Edgar A. Mearns, Medical Corps of the United States 

 Army (retired) ; Mr. Edmund Heller and Mr. Alden Loring. Upon 

 arrival in Africa the party was enlarged by the addition of Mr. R. 

 J. Cunninghame, who had been in Africa for some time, preparing 

 Col. Roosevelt's outfit. Mr. Cunninghame's work was to select 

 native porters and the necessary animals, including valuable saddle 

 horses, adapted to hunting in the jungles. Thus, a caravan was 

 formed by Mr. Cunninghame, which was in readiness when Col. 

 Roosevelt arrived. 



Ill 



