

MY AFRICAN EXPEDITION. 33 



There were also a half dozen goats to furnish milk for such animals as required 

 nursing before being able to digest their natural food. The supply from the goats 

 proved a blessing many a time to the hunters themselves. 



Attached to the expedition were six fleet, active, intelligent ponies for the use 

 ot the four Americans, two being extra, ft was characteristic of Jack Harvey that 

 he took his mustang, which he called "Apache," from Texas, with him. Carl 

 Godkin assured him that it would succumb in the trying climate of Africa, but the 

 Texan replied that in that case he would be no worse off than if he hadn't taken 

 him, since the company was furnished with two extra animals. 



Up to the date of which I am writing, Jack's steed was as vigorous and service- 

 able as when bearing his rider across the Llano Estacado in pursuit of the mur- 

 dering Apaches, and his owner was confident that, barring accident, he would take 

 him safely through his campaign in the Dark Continent. 



All were armed with Winchester repeaters, beside which there were two double- 

 barrel shot-guns, full choke, intended for use in shooting birds and smaller game, 

 especially for the pot. Each man also carried a five-chambered revolver, Colt's 

 pattern (Jack Harvey being the only one who used two), and a long, keen knife, 

 indispensable in that country. 



Of course there was a full supply of cooking utensils, a number of simple 

 medicinal remedies and articles which it is not necessary to particularize. One of 

 these, I may say, however, was a Texan lasso that Jack Harvey carried with him 

 when careering across the country in search of animals. You shall speedily receive 

 proof of his skill in the use of this peculiarly American contrivance, so popular on 

 the Southwestern border. 



The natives expected to do little hunting and generally traveled on foot or took 

 turns in riding in the lumbering wagons. They were armed with spears and 

 knives only, there being one notable exception in the case of Pongo, who carried a 

 boomerang, or rather three of them. 



He could throw those singular weapons with the skill of a native Australian, 

 though where he got them and by what means he acquired his dexterity were a 

 puzzle which neither Mr. Godkin nor any of his friends was ever able to understand, 

 since that most remarkable implement is almost unknown outside of Australia. 



Such is a general description of the party which entered the wilds of Africa in 

 quest of curiosities for The Greatest Show on Earth, and whose adventures, 

 exploits and achievements form one of the most romantic episodes in the history oi 

 marvelous enterprise. 



The company made its start proper from Port Natal, which, as you may know, is 

 on the eastern coast of Africa, in latitude 30 south. Moving northwest to Peter- 

 maritzburg, they made their way through the Drakenberg mountains, which form 

 the boundary between Natal and the Orange Free State, and thence through the 

 southern part of the Transvaal into Bechuana Land-. 



This of itself was a great journey, the history of which would be interesting, but 

 the real work of the expedition did not open until they were several hundred miles 



