STORIES OF THE GREAT HUNT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9221, 25 May 1910, Page 8

STORIES OF THE GREAT HUNT.

A JOLLY NIGHT WITH MR. ROOSEVELT. RABAK-ON-TBMfILE, March 28. Seldom has there been such a picturesque background as that furnished for the dinner at which Mr Roosevelt met the journalists last night on board the boat in which he is coming down river. The table was set on the deck of a barge lashed against the steamer, whose nose was run into the reedy bank of the Nile. The leaping flames of the papyrus grass before a north gale lighted up the flat country bordering the shallow stream. On the lower deck of the barge the blacks lay at full length, some asleep, others droning monotonously a native song. It was an undress affair. Silhouetted against the lurid light, which

gave an impression as of a vast prairie fire, Mr Roosevelt presented a picture of health and rugged His face is burned nut-brown by exposure, his eyes are bright and clear, his hair is slightly bleached by the 'hot tropical sun. His costume consisted of the same hunting clothes he has worn throughout the trip—khaki breeches, with leather knees, tight at the calves ; pigskin shoes; and a oured flannel shirt open the neck. He was in great spirits, and told innumerable humorous, and entertaining stories of his trip—for instance, of his gun bearer's struggles with English and his great pride when, • discovering some ostrich chicks, he blurted out

"Look! the bull, the cow, and the pups!" thus indicating the family relationship. ODD REQUESTS. "Bully!" ejaculated Mr Roosevelt once, and theii stopped, adding: "I mustn't say 'bully' any more. A distinguished critic has said that this word is used only by children and exPresidents." lie chaffed Cunningham on his enormous beard, saying he

would have to make his acquaintance over again, when it was removed, and promising him his freedom of New York—provided he had sufficient influence with the police authorities. He talked amusingly of letters which had penetrated even into mid-Africa from strangers desiring him to send them such trifles as a "water-baby," a two-hundred-pound live snake, _ and an elephant not too old to train or too young to bring up. Many letters were critical; one asked how he had the heart to kill a poor unoffending rhinoceros. This suggested that probably the writer had never been charged by an angry rhinoceros in the long grass. Mr Roosevelt manifests the keenest interest in the work of the missionaries whose stations he visited throughout the long line of his march. He found them great-hearted men and women, sacrificing selves for the advance of Christianity. Air the missionaries he had met were especially keen about American politics, but Mr Roosevelt declined, as on all occasions, to discuss politics. The ex-President takes _ the results of his expedition very seriously. Not onljr is he personally satisfied" with having acquired all the particular specimens on which he had set his heart, such as the white rhinoceros, the giant eland, and the digdig, but he says that scientists will agree that no such collection has ever come out of Africa. He has series of species, and some new discoveries. He intends when in London to visit the British Museum to verify certain specimens which he believes to be nameless. Mr Roosevelt entertains a deep affection for his guns, and has made an interesting collection of bullets which brought down notable game, for instance, a nickel sheathing bullet which saved his life from a charging elephant, and a flattened shell which killed a desperate rhino in the nick of time.