The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and Echo. FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1901. THE MISSING LINK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 146, 21 June 1901, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and Echo.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1901. THE MISSING LINK.

For the came that lacks assistance*, Tor the wrong Uiat needs restataaca, Por the fatura in the distance, jnd the good that we aw do.

Most of the audience that listened a few days ago to Mr. Ewart Gro-o-an's lecture on behalf: of the Maori Girls' School probably failed to suspect the unique distinction pi the young explorer's work. As Mr. Cecil Rhodes has observed in acknowledging- the dedication of Mr. Grogan's book, there is something almost humorous in the fact that, the mighty task of crossing the African Continent from north to south should have been reserved for a Cambridge undergraduate indulging in a longvacation ramble. Now that the importance of Mr. Grogaifs achievement is becoming fully recognised, it would be a curious instance of the irony of fate if the great scientific problem involved in the discovery of the so-called "missing link" should have been casually solved by a young man out for a holiday.

The story of Mr. Grogan's 4000-mile tramp is told at length in one of the most gorgeous books of travel issued in recent years. But the most interesting features of the story were anticipated in the address which the explorer delivered some months back before the Royal Geographical Society. It was a strange tale that he told: of volcanic lands pitted with chasms of fire, of gloomy.swampsand impenetrable forests, of cannibals, of pigmies, and of ape-like men. Mr. Grogan's chief occupation while on tour was huntiug; and he got enough excitement out of it to satisfy Nimrod himself. So dense was the forest growth that in one district, though elephants swarmed there, he hunted for a week before he found one, and then had to fire at two yards distance, for at a longer range 'he could not seethe beast at all. In some of the swamps he had to waste about two hours a day in clearing oft the herds of elephants before his carriers could start their inarch; while ••banks and banks of hippopotami lav about in all directions.

But while Mr Grogan hunted with vast enthusiasm, he always maintained his interest in the people whom he met. Few travellers have drawn such graphic pictures of savage life; though some of 'the most typical scenes are perhaps too naturalistic for our vitiated tastes. For the descriptions of the Baleggas who ate up one of his elephants raw, and of the cannibal orgie that he interrupted, we prefei to°direct the reader, to Mr Grogan's book. Among his most interesting acquaintances were the Dinkas, huge wild men, many of whom were nearly seven feet in height. They drink the warm blood from their living oxen, disdain clothing-, bleach their hair with manure, and cover their bodies with ashes, till from a distance they appear like "so many grey spectres." Among these weird people Mr Grogan had a trying experience. They suddenly attacked him and killed some of his. best men; and he had just time to clear enough space round himself to use his rifle. "A quick right and left laid out the chief and his Prime Minister, and I swung around just in time to dodge a spear and to ward off a blow at my head from, v club, which felled me to my knees. I responded by poking my empty rifle into the pit of my assailant's stomach, and the ensuing pause gave me time to slip in a cartridge and finish him. The Dinkas retired in haste, and Mr Grogan, after "knocking over" several gigantic warriors from the tops of ant hills at long range, made forced marches out of the country. His relation with other tribes

seem to have been more amicable. The Pigmies, whom he met, struck him as being by no means the lowest type of African savage. "They have the appearance of full grown, exceedingly powerful men compressed. The true type of Pigmy is a magnificent example of Nature's adaptability, being

a combination of immense strength necessary for the precarious hunting life they lead, and compactness, indispensable to rapid movement in the dense forests where the pig-runs are the only meanS of passage." These comments illustrate the scientific curiosity with which Mr Grogan regarded the strange life around him; an interest which was fully rewarded by his discovery of a race of savages hitherto undiscovered by any pre-

vious explorer. While -exploring the volcanic country near the great lakes, "I observed," says Mr. Grogan, "some apelike creatures leering at me from i behind banana palms." With great ! difficulty his guides persuaded one of them to come out and be inspected. "He was a tall man, with the long arms, pendent paunch, and short legs of the ape, pronouncedly small head, and prognathous. At first ie was terribly alarmed, but soon gained confidence, and when I asked him about elephant and other game he gave me most realistic representa-

tions of them and how they should be attacked. The stamp of the brute was so strong on these people, of whom I saw twenty or thirty individuals., that I should place them | lower in the human scale than any j other native I have seen in Africa. Their face, body and limbs were covered with wiry hair, and the hang of the long, powerful arms, the slight stoop of the trunk, and the hunted, vacant expression of the face made

up a tout ensemble that was a terrible pictorial proof of Darwinism."

Mr. (Drogan succeeded in reassur-

ing some of these strange creatures, but he says they were quite animal in their nervous apprehensions. "Though I had one of these curious men with me for a week, he would always start it: 1 looked at him, and he followed my every movement with his eyes as would a nervous dog."

Though Africa has been from ancient days the home of marvels, near-

ly all its explorers have seen their most striking discoveries treated with a certain amount of incredulity. Dv Chailler could not g-et anyone to believe in his gorillas, and Stanley's Pigmies were at first received in polite silence. The cabled news that Sir 11. Johnstone, British Central Af-

rican Commissioner, confirms Mr. Grogan's discovery of the ape men, would seem to indicate that the scientific world did not at first attach due importance to Mr. Grogan's success. The appearance of Mr. Grogan's book has effectually settled the question. One of the illustrations reproduces a photograph of an ape-man watched by the explorer kindling flame, after the primitive fashion, with a wooden fire drill. It is a weird but fascinating picture on the one side —this strange creature with bowed, shaggybody, sloping forehead and protruding jaw, his dark face half vacant, half absorbed—on the other, the white skin, the erect bearing, the masterful eye, the half-cynical, halfpitying face of the young Englishman. At the same time, a good deal more will have to be known about this new tribe of men before it can be accepted as a fact that they approach any nearer, except in appearance, to the ape than many other races of pi-imitive people.

It is a common thing for discover-

ers who first come in contact with savages to underrate their intelligence.

Mr Grogan himself dissipates some of the first impressions unfavourable to the Pygmies which were formed on the strength of Mr Stanley's descriptions, and his own account of the docility and intelligence shown by the so-called ape-men does not incline us to accept very readily the theory that these natives, when submitted to scientific examination, will exhibit such mental .and anatomical divergences from civilized man as to create a new genealogical link between mankind and the brute creation. The discovery, however, is one which will create a good deal of interest in the scientific world, and when Sir H. Johnstone's report is received we shall be better able to judge of its importance as a factor in support of the Darwinian theory.

The s.s. Moura had a rather long passage up from Gisborne and arrived last evening a little before six o'clock, having occupied over 31 hours on the trip. The steamer met with -heavy head winds and seas, which necessitated placing the engines at "slow for more than 12 hours, and considerably delayed her arrival. Information has been received that the Board of Directors in London ot the New Zealand and Eivor Plate Land Mortgage Company (Limited) has resolved to pay an interim dividend at the rate of 2J per cent, for the six months ended April 30, 1901. The transfer books will he closed from •June 26 to July 5, both days inclusive, and the dividend will be payable on July 6, 1901.

A proposal has been made at Rotorua that a large party of about 300 Maoris, of whom one-fourth should be women and girls, should be conveyed to England for the purpose of giving in London and other large cities the war dances, hakas, and other athletic displays, and the jjji dances of the native race which lately aroused so much attention at Rotorua. The suggestion was made to the Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, who referred the matter lor Captain Gilbert Mair. The latter placed the proposal before a large number of the assembled tribes people on the camp ground at Rotorua, and it was rjeceived with great enthusiasm by the Maoris. The suggestion is that the Maoris should be conveyed to England about April or May next, so that they could be there at the coronation, and Captain Mair said that if permitted by the. Government he would be willing to lead the natives, to look after them in England, and bring them safely back. Exhibitions, it is stated, could also be given in Sydney and Melbourne. Efforts are to be made at once to get the proposal financed in either Auckland or London.

At the S.M. Court to-day, before Mr H. W. Brabant, S.M., the following cases were dealt with:—Francis Albert Fenton v. Henry -Ford Eeene, claim 19/9; defendant was ordered to pay 9/9; Archibald Grandison (Mr Parr) v. Samuel McMurray (Mr Mahony) claim £29 19/; judgment was given for plaintiff for £2817/, with costs £5 4/.

Mr Gresham, Coroner, held an inquest at the Avondale Ayslnm on the death of a female patient aged 72 years. The medical evidence showed that cancer was the cause of death, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Among the people who arrived in Wellington' to attend the reception of their Royal Highnesses was Captain M. Levy, of Nelson, who touched at that port as a : youth in a ship 71 years ago. The old gentlemen is in excellent health.

Those interested in the Mission of the Good Shepherd, and the many friends of Mxa Williams, will learn with regret that the doctor has ordered her complete rest for some months to come, For some years past this lady's work has been well known and appreciated in Auckland. It is hoped that rest will restore her to the full vigour of health. It is a pleasure and satisfaction to her to know that the work she began is organised on a basis which gives promise of its permanence and development.

■Ynother pleasant Thursday evening was spent by a large audience in Beresford - .street Congregational Church. The address last night was delivered by Mr George Fowlds, M.H.K., several selections were played by Mr John Mc-Dou-all's orchestra, and Mr S. Cousins sang "There is a Green Hill Far Away and "Ora Pro Nobis." The Rev. John Wilkins presided. The monthly Band of Hope entertainment was'held in the schoolroom of the Alexandra-st. Church on Wednesday. The programme was supplied by friends from the Edinburghstreet Congregational Sabbath School, and consisted of the following itemsPianoforte solos, Miss Stewart and Mr Lee: solo. Miss Williamson; recitations by the Misses Holloway and Poolev; quartet and choruses bj members of the choir; selections by members of the Drum and Fife Band The Rev. W. S. Potter presided and o-ave a short address. ° The passengers, cargo and periodicals which arrived at Wellington from London on Monday last will arrive here on Sunday next being brought up by the s.s. Zealandia. There passed through from 'Frisco to Australia by the mail steamer Manposa this week Mr Sully, a well-known architect of Nottingham, England Mr Sully is the author of a very remarkable and able work entitled ' The Plan of the Temple as Revealed to the Inspired Prophet Ezekiel." Mr Sully, who is both a powerful and eloquent speaker on Biblical and prophetical subjects, has just concluded a most successful lecturing tour of Canada and the United States, and commences an Australian tour upon arrival in Sydney. In about two mouths' time he intends visiting Auckland, and delivering a course of lectures upon the "Destiny of the English-speaking Race." 'The Signs of the Coming of the Son of Man," "The World Approaching a Great Crisis, Israel's relation to it—a New Universal Governfent," "The Queen City of the World to be Nine Miles Square — a Temple of Worship and Feasting, Four Miles Round,"' and "Jerusalem and Her Future Temple, to Hold a Million Worshippers."

Good progress is being made with the repairing of the crank shaft of the steamer Rotomahana. Our Thames correspondent telegraphs, it is expected that ilie work will be completed on Sunday. It was a bad break, but the engineers (Messrs Price Eros.) are making rapid progress with tho work.

Information has been received from Dunedin of the death of James Strange, a miner, formerly of the Thames district. It appears that Strange was working in a sluicing claim in Central Otago, and was .-eized with v fit. from which he never recovered. Deceased was G8 years of age. Strange had worked in Otajro (hiring1 the last eight years. He wus mining at Thames in the early days.

The second special Royal number of the "Graphic," which was issued the day before yesterday, has already had a record sale, and the orders for copies still continue to flow in on Ihe publisher. Although special provision vras made for a rush on the number, the edition scarcely promises to satisfy the demand for copies. We would therefore advise our readers to make early application for th.c number, as from all appearances the edition is certain to be exhausted very soon, and no second edition can be printed.

Robert MeAndrew eldest son of Mr James McAndrew, timber merchant, of Paeroa, died last evening on board the s.s. Taniwha on the way to Paeroa, He had been ailing for a very long time of consumption, and the end was expected every day. The young man wa.s twenty-eight years of age. He leaves a wife and two children. Mr and Mrs McAndrew and family will have the sympathy of numerous lhames and Ohinemuri friends in their sad bereavement.—(Paeroa correspondent.) The late Maori demonstration disclosed the fact that it was good for the Europeans generally that they did not understand the Maori language, and yet in some cases "a good thing" was missed. It might have been noticed that in the Ngatiporou dance the natives gave a vigorous kick with great force and unanimity. When making this vigorous demonstration the natives loudly asserted that they were kicking Kruger in the rear. If it is estimated that each kick represented a force of 501bs, then the concentrated energy of some 350 natives of something like a kick of about nine tons energy would have kicked Krnger sky high. A cinematograph representation of this dance would be an object lesson to the Boers, if the explanation of the high kicking was given at the same time.

Some of the passengers on the steamer Rotomahana were very frightened when it was ascertained that the crank shaft had broken and that the steamer was lying helpless in the Gulf. One lady is credited with rushing for a life belt, and saying that she knew the boat would sink. An Irishman on board was heard to exclaim: "Sink, bedad; O'm shure she won't. She'll float loike a cork, and roide the wather loike a bally duck. And if the worst comes to the worst, the captain '11 shove up the sails and shlap the boat on the Thames mud. Have no fare, madam; you're as safe as though ye were walkin' down the ashplanade in Pollen-shtrate!" Needless to say, the passengers laughed, and the humorous Irishman dissipated their fears.

At the monthly meeting of the Auckland Grammar School Board of Governors held yesterday afternoon it was resolved to adopt a recommendation made by the headmaster of the school that Mr McCullough, the. master in charge of the school cadet corps should be paid £20 a year for his services in this connection, on certain conditions. The headmaster said that -Mr McCullough had proved himself a very efficient officer in ehawje of the cadets.

His Honor Mr Justice .Conolly held a sitting in chambers at-the Supreme Court to-day. Probate was granted to the executors named in the wills of Isaac Johnston, Thomas Prosser, senr., Robert Straughan. Jane Elizabeth Johnston. David Gray and Clarence Joslin Hewson (deceased). Letters of administration were granted m re the estate of James Hughes (deceased). Mr John Bruce Christie was admitted and enrolled as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

In connection with the Maori gathei'ing at Rotorua and the stay of the returning natives in Auckland, the firm of Smeeton and Co have attended to a great deal of the providoring and the food supplies. Mr F. Crespin, the representative of the firm, has very carefully looked after the wants of the natives," under the direction of the Reception Commissioners and Messrs Hone Heke, M.H.R, and H. Parata. A numerous and enthusiastic assemblage filled the Public Hall at East Tamaki on Wednesday evening, when the Chairman of the School Committee, on behalf of the scholars and residents, presented Miss Helen McGee, late assistant teacher of the school, with a handsome dressing-case, as a token of the esteem in which she is held by all.

Mr T. H. Bosworth, who recently resumed the position of choir conductor at St. Benedict's, Newton, composed a mass in G, which he intends to put into rehearsal in about six weeks' time. WOLFE'S SCHNAPPS J Of great value in renal affections. Geo. Fowlds offers 500 pairs of boys' tweed knickers from \J\ 1. These are Al value, and worth double. —Ad.

A public boon: Secured considerably under cost by Geo. Fowlds, very special lines in underpants, singlets, hose, cardigan jackets, sweaters, etc., etc. Now being offered at half usual cost price. Come early to avoid disappointment. —Ad. Wonderful offer: Just secured a really good job line of ties n«w offering at 6d and 1/, also special line of job braces at 1/. Be sure to get some early.—Ad.

Geo. Fowlds offers men's macintoshes from 21/, working trousers 4/11, very special line at 7/11. Splendid value. —Ad.