HUNTING THE OKAPI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11854, 4 January 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

HUNTING THE OKAPI.

AN EXPEDITION WHICH COMBINES ::;-,;. BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE. The expedition upon which, Mr. A. E. Butter, of Faskally, accompanied by Mr. Darrah, has started across Africa to Lake Rudolf and the region beyond should be of uncommon interest. :•■ ,- , Leaving Berbera, Mr. Butter will make his way ' through Somaliland,' skirting Abyssinian territory, southwards to Lake Rudolf. Thence he will go south-west to Lake Albert, with the intention of penetrating into the great forest of Semliki, through which Stanley marched in search of Emin Pasha. ; The primary object of Mr. ' Butter's expedition, which is of a sporting nature, is to find a living specimen of the okapi, that strange beast, half zebra, half giraffe, a skin of which—the only one of its kind known— Sir Harry Johnston' recently brought back from. Africa and is now in the Natural History Museum at Kensington. No white man has seen this animal in its live state, but it is morally certain that it still exists, as the skin that* Sir Harry Johnston secured was quite new. ' Besides seeking for the' okapi, however, Mr, Butter will pay some attention to tho geography of the countiy through which he passes, and the British Government has taken the opportunity of attaching a non-commis-sioned officer -and sapper of the Survey Department to the . expedition. , , These i will join Mr. Butter at Harar, and, it is hoped, contribute towards the work in which Major Austin, owing to ill-luck, only partially succeeded. Though ,the expedition •■ has no political significance , the survey .to be made will probably be of considerable assistance to the Government in the .ultimate delimitation of the . Southern ; Ayssinian frontier, really the only.portion yet not definitely fixed. Mi*. Butter has not- decided upon how ho will return from the; Semliki Forest.;; He can,either retrace his steps or make his way ■ through' the Congo, b His final decision will most likely depend -upon-what luck; lie has i in his search or the oka-pi,, iv ..'"., ?. •: -j