hiː ˈɛntɚd ðə sˈɜːvɪs ʌv dʒˈɜːmən ɛksplˈoːɹɚ kˈɜːt vˈɑːn mˈɔːɹɡən, hˈuːm hiː ɐkˈʌmpənid ˌɔn ˌɛkspədˈɪʃənz bɪɡˈɪnɪŋ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn.
He entered the service of German explorer Kurt von Morgan, whom he accompanied on expeditions beginning in 1889.