Mr. Cavendish on his Journey to Lake Rudolf

Abstract

ON Monday last, Mr. H. S. H. Cavendish described his recent journey in East Africa before the Royal Geographical Society. Accompanied by Lieut. H. Andrew, Mr. Cavendish left Berbera on September 5, 1896, and proceeded in a southerly direction to Lugh, on the Juba River, afterwards striking westwards up the Dau. Here it proved very difficult to get into communication with the natives, as the caravan was at first taken for an Abyssinian force. The country of the Boran Gallas, with whom Dr. Donaldson Smith had so much trouble, was, however, soon reached. Mr. Cavendish gave some interesting details respecting this tribe, which he found most friendly, and anxious to be placed under British protection. Whilst in the Boran country the travellers were able to wander about at will without escort. At Egder, in about lat. 4° N., long. 39° E., Dr. Donaldson Smith's route was left, and the caravan made direct for Lake Stefanie, passing a remarkable crater with a lake at the bottom, from which salt is obtained,. At the south end of Lake Stefanie a large outcrop of coal was discovered, which had evidently been laid bare by the action of the water. It was in this neighbourhood that Mr. Cavendish had an adventure with an elephant which well-nigh proved fatal. Some valuable information was collected with regard to the ribes on the western side of the lake, the principal of which are the Wanderobo (allied to the Borans), the Harbora, Hamerkoke (nomads), and Galubba. Striking across to the north end of Lake Rudolf, the travellers reached the country of the Reshiat r Darsonich, a race of traders, but, like other tribes of the country, almost entirely unclothed. A remarkable weapon in use among them is a kind of knife-bracelet, which is covered with a sheath, except during a fight.