Decken

Decken, Karl Klaus, Baron von (1833-1865). an African traveller born at Kotzen. He was of good family, and was educated at the Gymnasium of Luneberg, from which he passed to the Cadets' College of Hanover, and then entered the army as lieutenant of Hussars. Tiring of the army after 10 vears he entered upon his career as a traveller, and started for Nyassa. Owing to the treachery of his guide he was obliged to return. In 1861 he went to Kilimanjaro with an Englishman named Thornton, and in 1862 he climbed it to a height of 14,000 feet. In 1864 he came to Europe to organise an expedition to explore the rivers of the east coast of Africa. His steamboats were wrecked, and in 1865 he and his companion, Dr. Linck, were killed by a Sheik Hamadi, who had done his best all along to prevent the expedition.