Diary Page

December 1908

Shooting trip to the

Ituri Forest - Congo

Left London Nov. 26th, 1908.

Friday, December 25th, 1908.

Horrible wet morning: unable to collect porters till about dinner time. I had sent off 84 men and donkey. We got away about one o'clock and 40 minutes brought us to the ferry. Quite rough crossing. Reached Mombale in 3 hours from river. Found Dr. and Mrs. Cook on safari. Spent a funny and lonely Christmas Day.

4¼ Hours - 14 Miles.

Saturday, December 26th, 1908.

Luckily fine when starting at daylight. Two and three quarter hours brought us to Quatamballa, and after 2 hours rest owing to heavy rain, we reached Basugo in 24 hours. Sent two men back, one sick, one lame. My new boys and donkey all seem a success.

5½ Hours - 16 miles.

Sunday, December 27th, 1908.

Overslept myself and only started at 6.20. Got on to the main road to Kampala, just before Basimbi. Did from Basugo to Vesuvisus 2 hours - V. to Basimbi 1 ½, and B. to Jungora 3 hours. No rest house and camped on road, travelling along in sight of the Lake.

6 ½ Hours - 18 Miles.

Monday, December 28th, 1908.

Up at 4.30. Took a long time getting away. Lost sight of the Lake about midday. Had a long trek, several porters only getting in at 6 o'clock. Met Price or Rice going home from Hoima. Also found my friends Mr. and Mrs. Labode camping at Kiganda. . We did 11 miles in 8 hours 20 minutes to Kakasengulla, then another 12 miles to Liorna or Kiganda - 3 hours 45 minutes - where we camped. Nice little place.

carried over (16¼hours) (48miles)

7 Hours - 23 Miles.

Tuesday, December 29th, 1908.

Up same time. Gave all the porters their food last night. Reached Nabakassi after 2 hours, then 4 hours brought us to where we leave the Mobendi road. Next 1 ¼ hours road was very bad; not cleaned and above one's head; also bridges gone here and there. Had a long 7 ¼ hours trek. Same wretched old rest house - filthy and quite unable to use in any way. Camped at Katubalanga (Hagome). Water very poor and food scarce; porters had to fetch what they got from some distance. Had heavy thunderstorm about 4 just after getting nicely settled.

7¼ Hours - 21 Miles.

Wednesday, December 30th, 1908.

Alarum clock gone wrong: up a bit later having shorter trek. Left at daybreak, as road is all uncleaned between these two rest houses. Did 4 ½ hours, about 13 miles. Circled all round the big Mobendi hill, leaving it about 3 miles off on our right. Had heavy thunderstorm at 4. Reached Kybilinga camp about midday. Quite surprized to find all the beasts which made life not worth living last March had disappeared - mosquitoes. I hired 3 porters here, also sent letters across to Mobendi. Took on a day's rations as I hear no food next camp.

(carried over 30 ½ hours 92miles)

4 ½ Hours 13 Miles.

Wrote:

President Roosevelt.

Ld. Nunburnholm.

Mrs. H. Broadley.

Lily.

J. Featherton.

Miss B. Fowler.

Mrs Collister.

R. Murray Leslie.

Bertie Smith.

Thursday, December 31st, 1908.

I left the Labodes at last camp - going to stay a day over. Got away just before daylight. Road not yet cleaned. Sorry to say donkey went sick - overfed and brought on inflammation; got it into camp with the very greatest difficulty. Did 16 miles. Villages very scarce. No rest house here now, only a small grass thatched shed but fairly clean. Mosquitoes. Poor donkey died quickly; inflammation through eating dry indian corn husks. Camp called Kekegwe. Food very scarce.

5 ½ Hours - 16 Miles.