TRANSPORTING A NAVY THROUGH JUNGLES OF AFRICA 



and we left the Belgian town full of hope 

 and bearing the good wishes of the towns- 

 folk, who turned out in force to see us off. 

 In the course of a few days we reached 

 the railhead, and that is where the real 

 business started. The depot was called 

 Fungurume (midway between Chilongo 

 and Kambove). Here the boats were de- 

 trained, still in their cradles, and mounted 

 on specially constructed carriages fitted 

 with rubber-tired wheels. 



ALL SUPPLIES CARRIED ON HEADS OE 

 NATIVES 



In the meantime stores were being sent 

 ahead by native carriers, each boy carry- 

 ing on his head a load weighing about 60 

 pounds. Provisions, ammunition, and 

 petrol for the motor-boats were all trans- 

 ported in this fashion, our string of na- 

 tive carriers extending in single file for 

 miles. There being no coal in this coun- 

 try, we had to rely on wood chopped en 

 route, stacks of which had been prepared 

 in readiness by the advance party. 



Writing of native carriers reminds me 

 that it was customary for them to chant 

 or sing as they jogged along. Some of 

 those whose villages had been situated 

 near white settlements had learned Eng- 

 lish hymns in the local mission homes. 

 They had memorized the tune and words, 

 but they had no comprehension of the 

 actual meaning of the words. Imagine, 

 therefore, a crowd of natives on the 

 march, each carrying a load of some 60 

 pounds on his head, with a prospect of a 

 30-mile trek under a blazing sun, singing 

 such a hymn as "Now the Laborer's Task 

 Is O'er/' 



About this time we lost our guide and 

 the originator of the expedition, Lieuten- 

 ant Lee, sunstroke and fever obliging him 

 to go to the hospital. 



By about the middle of August the ex- 

 pedition made a start, with boats and all 

 gear, from Fungurume on the 146-mile 

 journey through the bush, escorted by an 

 armed guard of Askaris (native Belgian 

 soldiers ) . 



A detachment with a powerful motor 

 lorry, carrying a supply of provisions, 

 tents, and general camp gear, went ahead 

 to select a suitable spot for camping each 

 evening, to erect tents, and to prepare 

 food for the main body following. 



And so, early in the coolness of an 

 African morning, we turned our backs on 

 civilization and all that it meant, to fade 

 away, but for a short time, we hoped, 

 into the heart of the African bush. 



However, "coming events cast their 

 shadows before," and shortly after we 

 got on the move we had a taste of what 

 was in store for us in the way of trouble. 

 Within one hour of leaving Fungurume 

 the wheels of the leading traction engine 

 became embedded in the earthwork and 

 timber of a ford across a small stream, 

 the strength of the ford being insufficient 

 to stand the weight of the engine. Thus 

 two precious days were wasted in getting 

 the engine out of difficulties. 



I say "precious" days because the 

 rainy season was not far off, and it must 

 be remembered that, once the rainy sea- 

 son starts in Central Africa, it rains for 

 weeks almost without a break, in solid 

 sheets of water. Small streams become 

 swollen torrents, carrying everything be- 

 fore their mad rush; lower levels become 

 enormous shallow lakes, and all roads and 

 tracks are obliterated. 



In addition to this, one good rainfall 

 would render useless our stacks of wood 

 fuel all along the route. 



Getting on the move again, we reached 

 Mofia, 14 miles distant. This was not a 

 bad day's work, considering the diffi- 

 culties. From this point to the native 

 village of Wendi Macosi the roads were 

 fairly good. 



TRACTION ENGINES CAUSE CONSTERNA- 

 TION AMONG NATIVES 



Needless to say, the arrival of two iron 

 monsters in the form of our tractors, 

 belching forth smoke, caused consider- 

 able consternation among the natives of 

 this village. They deserted their homes 

 and fled to the bush. But when the chief 

 and his headmen were assured that the 

 engines were harmless, the natives re- 

 turned to their village, and soon came to 

 us, bringing offerings of fruit, vegetables, 

 chickens, and goats. 



This happened in most of the villages 

 we passed through, but now and then we 

 encountered a tribe not too kindly dis- 

 posed toward white people. We carried 

 an ample supply of tinned foods ; but 

 fresh meat being preferable, we obtained 



