42o A LION-SPEARING SAFARI. 



feels that the resuhs of the expedition will be of real and great 

 scientific value." 



The Colonel and the other hunters arrived at Gondokoro on 

 February 17. They had passed through the most trying stage of 

 their African journey. For ten days they had been practically 

 isolated in a wilderness so forbidding to the white men that it has 

 not been invaded by the telegraph companies. The country is rough 

 and the heat intense, the only communication between its scattered 

 villages being through native runners. 



The dangers of the march from Nimule are understood by those 

 familiar with the dubious route, and to these the safe arrival at 

 Gondokoro brings a feeling of relief. 



At Gondokoro there are a few shops belonging to Greeks and 

 Indians and a few traders make their headquarters there. The 

 steamboats owned by the Sudan Government call once a month for 

 passengers and the mails for Khartoum. 



GONDOKORO AN IVORY AND SLAVE CENTRE. 



Gondokoro is a famous mission station and market place in the 

 territory of the Bari tribe of Soudanese. It is on the White Nile 

 about 200 miles north of Albert Nyanza. A British military post 

 was established there in 1871. In former times Gondokoro was a 

 great centre of the ivory and slave trade, and an ivory market is 

 still maintained there. 



Pope Gregory XVI. established a mission there in 1846 and the 

 pro-vicar Koblecher founded a station in 185 1. A succession of 

 misfortunes, including the death of Koblecher in April, 1858, and a 

 famine in 1859, led to the final abandonment of the station. 



The entrance into Gondokoro of the ex-President was rudely 

 picturesque, and nothing that British and native hospitality could 

 suggest was lacking in the welcome. The arrival of the expedition 

 in the outskirts of the town was heralded with bugle blasts by Chief 

 Keriba's bugle band, which led the van. Chief Keriba accompanied 

 his musicians. 



The native party had met the expedition sixteen miles to the 



