Bicycles, machine-guns, and lions

So the thread title caught your eye, eh?

First, the background . . .

The missionary Robert P. Ashe wrote his "Chronicles of Uganda" after
he ventured back into the country in 1891, during the brief fad for
cushion or hollow tires on early safety bicycles:

"The Iron Donkey: During my former journeys I had sometimes thought
that a bicycle might be utilised upon much of the beaten caravan
tracks, which connect village with village and tribe with tribe, and
on which the traveller might cross the whole continent; oftentimes
moreover one finds long reaches of level road worn perfectly smooth by
the feet of passers-by. But what in earlier days had been simply an
interesting theory was made not only possible, but highly practicable,
by the invention of the safety bicycle; and so on this occasion a good
new safety bicycle, with cushion tyres, formed a very important part
of my equipment."

"It was with a certain degree of trepidation I unpacked the machine at
Sadaani, and took it from the great wooden case in which it had been
conveyed thither. There were some thousands of Wanyamwezi carriers
belonging to Stokes encamped near the town, who viewed with unfeigned
astonishment this, to them, marvellous contrivance, which they soon
named the "enzobe ya chuma"—-iron donkey. I mounted, and, to my great
satisfaction, found that it went well on the narrow footway leading
out of Sadaani to Endumi, where our tents were pitched. Knowing,
however, that I should come to many places where it would be
impossible to ride the machine, I hired a porter to follow me, and to
hold himself in readiness to carry the bicycle over any rough places,
rivers, ravines, or rocky hills which we should meet with on our way.
The carrier selected very soon found that he had made a good bargain,
since for the greater part of the distance his office proved a
lucrative sinecure."
--p. 13
http://books.google.com/books?output...AAAYAAJ&jtp=13

And now for the machine-guns and lions:

"It will thus be seen that I had only fifteen regular carriers for the
two hundred loads which I had to convey to Uganda. My plan was to move
from district to district, hiring fresh porters at every place I came
to. This was an undertaking of much difficulty, and yet, owing in
great measure, I think, to the fear which the natives entertained for
the Germans, who had lately occupied this region—-a fear which all
Europeans, more or less, shared with them. The chiefs on the road
treated me with the greatest respect, and in return for the presents I
gave them provided porters to carry my loads. These porters I paid
with calico, at so much per head. I think the possession of the
bicycle proved a strong point in my favour, for the people suspected
it to be a machine gun—-and, at any rate, were quite certain that it
was a piece of the white man's magic. But to whatever I owed it I
happily succeeded in accomplishing the journey to within a few days of
the German station of Bukoba, near the frontier of Uganda. As soon as
the German officers heard of my approach they sent to my assistance,
and for several marches transported the whole caravan free of cost."

"The route I followed was for some distance that by which Stanley had
reached Usambiro on his latest journey. I was still able to use the
bicycle, though, as 1 neared Uganda, the hills and swampy valleys made
that method of locomotion more and more difficult."

"While journeying between Usambiro proper and a place called Bumbeke I
had a novel, and I think I may call it an unique experience. One
morning, at about ten o'clock, I was far ahead of the porters, and was
moving along upon the bicycle over a fairly good path, when my
attention was suddenly attracted by hearing some large animals
galloping by my side. I was marking my path carefully at the time, but
on looking to my right hand, where the animals were, I discovered that
the creatures which were accompanying me were three magnificent lions.
Though I had heard the roar of lions close at hand in the darkness, I
had never before actually seen one face to face. My novel companions
kept up with me, going parallel with me for about a hundred yards.
They were distant some twenty or thirty yards. Presently they stood
still, looked at me for a moment, and then slowly bounded off at a
right angle, from time to time stopping and looking back, till they
finally disappeared in the long grass, while I held on my way. My men,
when they came up, discovered, not far from the path, the partially
devoured carcase of a zebra, which the lions had pulled down. My
silent and sudden appearance had disturbed them at their feast, and, I
doubt not, the extraordinary vision of the bicycle had given them
fright."

--p. 43-4
http://books.google.com/books?id=m5M...c=toc#PPA43,M1

Drawing of lions and bicycle:
http://books.google.com/books?id=m5M...c=toc#PPA45,M1

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

On Sun, 17 May 2009 21:58:05 -0600, wrote:

So the thread title caught your eye, eh?

Uh, yeah.

Knowing,
however, that I should come to many places where it would be
impossible to ride the machine, I hired a porter to follow me, and to
hold himself in readiness to carry the bicycle over any rough places,
rivers, ravines, or rocky hills which we should meet with on our way.

I am now considering this approach for next winter's cyclcocross season. My
porter will have it even better since he'll only need to trot through the
infield between the obstacles on the course.

My men,
when they came up, discovered, not far from the path, the partially
devoured carcase of a zebra, which the lions had pulled down. My
silent and sudden appearance had disturbed them at their feast, and, I
doubt not, the extraordinary vision of the bicycle had given them
fright."

Something of a problem even where I ride. Not the lions so much as other large
animals alarmed by that rapid, silent approach. The one that scares me most are
the feral/wild/hellspawn pigs down here. A buddy of mine got taken down by a
spooked deer that had been flushed into him by riders on anothr section of
trail. Deer aren't even vicious like the damn hogs.