Diary Page

December 1909

Shooting trip to the Ituri Forest Congo - Left London Nov 16th, 1909.

Sunday, December 19th, 1909.

Got off at 4 o'clock and had a good long trek - camped at the nice tin rest house Chacasengula - 67 ½ mile. Passed Bigongla at mile 57.

67 ½ miles - Chacasengula.

Monday, December 20th, 1909.

Passed Lwina or Kiganda at mile 69 ½ and camped at Nabakazi 85 miles. no shelter of any kind - erected grass huts and tent - very hot early part of day.

85 Miles - Nabakazi.

Tuesday, December 21st, 1909.

Passed the bye road for Toro at mile 96 and reached camp Katabalanga at 102 miles - nice high camp - good water in the river - only a tiny grass shelter to sit in. Found Mr.Marshall in safari house - had tea and dinner with him.

Wrote to:

Lady Mowbray. Mrs. Wrohan. O. & C. Club (and about papers and date to port Aden and Newton) Nat. Bank., Entebbe.

Cards to:

Lily. Wills. Ld.Rothers. Ld.Londesbro'. Lady Leith.

102 mile Katabalanga

Wednesday, December 22nd, 1909.

Very dark morning and nasty bit of road till getting into big road again. Passed the old road about 10 miles from camp. I met Mr. Street on road before reaching camp. Camped at Kybilinga, about 16 miles. Got eggs - lots of posso - good tomatoes and grenadilloes - rainstorm in afternoon.

16 Miles - Kibilinga. 5 ½ Hours.

Thursday, December 23rd, 1909.

Had one of the worst gales and rain I have known - tent nearly blown down - poured til1 daylight - left at 6.30 - did 17 miles to Kekegwe. Road bad and soft - not metalled. Boys got no food here.

17 - Kekegwe 5 hours.

Friday, December 24th, 1909.

Got up at 3 and heard it pouring - so waited till daylight - it still poured - at 8 I found the boys had had no food so I sent them to forage - they did not return till 11 o'clock. It was after 12 when we moved - roads in awful state after rains, and two bridges being built made it awkward to get mules over. Did 5 ¼ hours to Kinoumba - getting there just before dark - place I first met young Wimmery. Found Mr. camped here - so have someone to talk to on Xmas Eve. New rest house, tin, being built 1 mile this side of Kekegwe. Plenty of shambae about half-way between these camps if cutting 3 treks into two.

(To date 135 miles)

Kihoumba 17 Miles 5 ¼ hours.

Saturday, December 25th, 1909.

Left later as we had a bad swamp to cross 1 hour after starting. Thought of everyone off to church Xmas morning - and me wading through a dirty marsh with 3 ft of water. Found a place 2 ¾ hours after leaving & 2 hours from Kahoura where one could make camp and get food if cutting 3 treks into two. Looks like a lonely Xmas dinner, as I find Mr.Pratt, who is on the road work, evidently gone to Toro for Xmas. See Toro hills from our camp - nice clean rest house - busy doing some sewing and writing. Camp Kahoura - 4 ¾ hours.

Kahoura 14 miles 4 ¾ hours.

Sunday, December 26th, 1909.

Porters were again short of food - started away at 4.30 - had several halts on the road, as boys met with food also cimbas. Had a longish march & found the old rest house all gone & grown up - so went on a mile & camped right on the road. No sign of Mr. and Mrs. Leakey here. Camped at Batite or Mohangin - did 6 hours - travelled only slowly.

(166 miles)

Batite 18 Miles 6 hours.

Dr.Johnson. Cards to: Roosevelt.

Mah.Cooch Rehew. Mrs C.Constable.

E.W.Leakey. Lady Glover.

M.Moses. Mrs. Keppell.

Vic.Darling. Carvey.

Osborne. Dorothy Ward.

George B. G. Cathcart.

Wills. G.Featherton.

Alys.

Mrs G.Bassett.

Talbot Baines.

Monday, December 27th, 1909.

Up at 3 - rain delayed us a bit. Marched well & 4 ¼ hours brought us to Mahoumbi, and another 2 ¼ into Toro. Found Mr. Delmage at home & was most kindly welcomed & put up in his compound. Went up to tea with Dr. & Mrs. Bond. Did my shopping at Alladina's. Found cable from Mrs. Wrohan.

Mahoumbi 12 ½ Miles

Toro 7 miles 6 ½ hours.

Tuesday, December 28th, 1909.

Had a very busy morning getting all packed up and load assorted - paid off 7 old porters and got rid of the lady, cundry and fat man - quite a relief to the safari. Buckley came in before lunch - got 12 new porters. Started away at 2.30 - did about 3 hours and camped at Waseera, where Alladina said plenty of food, but found nothing within miles. Luckily boys have a bit along.

Wassera - 3 hours.

Wednesday, December 29th, 1909.

Called boys at 3 o'clock, when they nearly all ran away & said they dare not start till daylight as lion were about - so I had to sit and wait over two hours - most annoying, as it made it nearly 2 o'clock before we reached camp. Took us nearly 2 ¾ hours to Mondeva, and 2 ¼ on to our camp over the Semiliki - boys tired out with the steep hill & hot sun. Swam the mules across. Found Mr. Chicoota camping here - down with fever. Two thunderstorms going on as usual - very hot.

Letter to:

J. de O. Delmage.

4 ½ hours. Semiliki

Thursday, December 30th, 1909.

Started porters off just before daylight and then followed when light, as I felt bound to get some meat for my porters - had no food yesterday & only half rations last night at Semiliki - and hear food is scarce at next camp. I soon shot a very fine cobus kob, packed all in on porters & 1 mule. Found the dirty stream quite full up to the shoulders. I stripped all except my shirt & then plunged in on the grey mule - of course got wet above waist as it had almost to swim. Camped at Kilyano - fair rest house - sent note to Gibbons, also ahead to Kuesi. Got about 40 fair good rations in.

1 Cobus Cob. 4 ½ hours. Kilyano

Friday, December 31st, 1909.

Started off about 5 o'clock and just reached the swamp at daylight - saw five elephant but no ivory - pretty hard up & down trek - met Mr. Rokie just clear of Kuesi - which I reached punctually at 11 o'clock. Found my kind host waiting for me in a grand new house - flags flying half mast for King Leopold. Having a nice quiet day resting.

4 ½ hours Kuesi