A LION-SPEARING SAl'ARI. 429 



south, and en route here did it all the honor that could be ^otten out 

 of their instruments of brass and Indian drums. 



Reaching the town the band struck up " America," which, hap- 

 pening to be the British national air, suited the occasion exactly. 

 Belgian marches were interspersed. Following the musicians a 

 native porter carried a large American flag. Then came the cara- 

 van proper, Colonel Roosevelt, Kermit, the other American hunters 

 and scientists and the body of native porters who have had an im- 

 portant, if humble, share in the work of exploration. 



Waiting on the Bar-El-Jabel was the launch of General vSir 

 Reginald Wingate, of the Egyptian army, and from the vessel were 

 flying the Stars and Stripes. Mr. Roosevelt boarded the launch at 

 once upon reaching there, and after a brief rest began the reading 

 of his mail. Many communications awaited him. 



HUNTING EXPEDITION NEARLY ENDED. 



Kermit Roosevelt and Mr. Loring distinguished themselves 

 during the day. A native had fallen into the river near the steamer, 

 occupied by Colonel Roosevelt, and was drowned. Kermit and i\Ir. 

 Loring learned of the accident and in an effort to recover the body 

 dived into the vvater, heedless of the dangers from the crocodiles 

 and the swift current. They escaped harm. 



The Governor of Mongalla, the Belgian commandant at Lado 

 and other ofiicials called upon Colonel Roosevelt during the forenoon. 



Colonel Roosevelt, Kermit and Edmund Heller, the zoologist, 

 left Gondokoro February i8, on a steamer for a final week of shoot- 

 ing along the river banks. 



R.J.Cunninghame, the field naturalist; Major Edgar A. Mearns 

 and J. Alden Loring did not accompany the Colonel but remained 

 at Gondokoro to pack the specimens, dismiss the porters and others, 

 who accompanied the Colonel as helpers, and wind up the details 

 incident to the close of the expedition. With the exception of the 

 river excursion the hunting was practically ended. 



February 26 was breaking up day for the Smithsonian African 

 scientific expedition, all of the porters and half of the servants re- 

 turning to Kampala and Nairobi. 



