HUNTING IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL AFRICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14375, 21 May 1910, Page 5 (Supplement)

HUNTING IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL AFRICA.

CHASING BIG GAME. Ix the smoke-room of an African liner one i occasionally hears told with the utmost I modesty, and often only when a good dinner has loosened the young hunter's tongue, scraps of tales 'that throw some light on the dangers and fascinations of the big game hunter's life in the tropical world. One big fellow, when pressed, owned reluctantly that he was rather lame in one knee on account of the inaccuracy of his shot at a charging buffalo. His second shot was not sufficient to fini.h the great brute, and he had a more than anxious time hanging on with his full weight, to .one of the buffalo's horns to save himself from being gored to death. Only a native hunting knife and a long arm enabled him to free himself by a full stabbing his enemy through the heart. Had he been, a light weight—had his knife not been handy —had his shots not been so well aimed— had the buffalo's full charge caught him in the first place, he would not have been with us to relate his adventures. Another time he told us that his having been 'an old Rugby threequarters had jusi pulled him through on one occasion. An enraged elephant charged him, and the shot had not proved fatal. The elephant spread out its two great ears to their utmost width. Its rattling scream Was terrifying; its trunk was raised with blood pouring from it, and it was only by swerving," dodging, twisting, and doubling that the hunter I kept out of reach until, watching over his shoulder, he got in a fatal shot at close quarters. He said that he never worried much about dodging elephants, so long as he had any trees to assist him. It requires no small presence of mind to keep cool and work out your theory . whilst running full speed zig-zag across a bog; 'but tile real' big game man is coolest when danger is greatest. /^^_.:--u-'/ /;/,> = Our hunting companion own that "lie hated hearing the lion's sinister breathing -around the fires at night; the distinctive leonine noise when he smells blood, just when one I feels very tired and sle°" - is disquieting, to say the very least, cspecially when one has seen the daring of the animal. He will spring on to his victim, cany him off through the bush, and finish the greater part of a human carcass. The lion's habit of coming back the next night to finish a head or leg or any dainty portion left over, is/ often his death knell, as one can then await him up a tree. ;// A man-eating Hon is certainly the most cunning animal in the world, daring any danger, • appearing just where least expected, and capable of totalling terribly long lists of victims before being killed. A wounded lion, unlike a leopard, attacks openly, and is ten, spoken of as a "man,", to the disparagement of the " slinking" wounded leopard, which springs upon its victim from unsuspected retreats and takes the hunter unawares. / .' Hunters usually only snoot lions when, they are forced-to do so in self-protection. They are busy after elephants, for their valuable tusks, £50 being quite a small price to get for a pair containing over 1001b of ivory. The time of year not to go to British East Africa is from the beginning of February to the middle of May; the rest of the year is very bracing and healthy, and the surroundings are comfortable and ensure excellent sport. It mav. however, be rather 'cold and uncomfortable during thebig rains, which occur in the English spring season, but these trifling drawbacks are counterbalanced by the superiority of the sport which may then b-? relied upon. The best season for shooting in Northwestern Rhodesia is from June to October, but certainly not from January to April, when the rains fall and fever* is at its worst. ■/ Suitable clothing, arms, cartridges, and binoculars should be taken, as well as soft but strong khaki serge suits, khaki flannel shirts, a couple of old lounge suits for evening wear in camp, several pairs of socks, a thick overcoat, a double felt hat, a khaki helmet,, plenty of stout boots, the better for having toe caps, and one pair of high rubber boots, a sleeping bag, and a good second' rug. / "'/""' A .450 and a magazine cordite rifle of a smaller bore, with a 12-bore shotgun and a revolver, with a reasonable supply of ammunition, is all that need be taken in this line. ■"-•'■•..,'' ; - It is optional to the individual whether he engages a-, white hunter, well verged in the game and thoroughly understanding the various "native dialects. He will take ponies or mules for convenience and comfort in long journeys and for. exploring the country, and donkeys to carry some of the loads instead of natives. It may bo well to remind-the hunter that a donkey carries a double load and needs no food (carried .for him. The necessary outfit for " safari" comprises a headman and two gun carriers, a cook and a servant, askaris" (trustworthy men who are armed and keep watch over the camp, take charge ,of small parties, either carrying letters or returning for more provisions), and norters. who each carry about 601b. Between 12 and £0 of these are required, in proportion to the number of months the trip is to last. The porters are paid 13s Ad per month, with a free blanket and free rations of rice or meal daily. Tents and all other camping accoutrements can be hired on arrival, but special luxuries should be taken, although the necessary provisions and wine and spirits can be purchased quite reasonably on the spot. • .-...': • Natives can skin the bags, but direct supervision is distinctly advisable, as also the treatment of all trophies with turpentine, paraffin, or some other preservative, and skins with' powdered burnt alum. ■ There are now several firms of " safari" outfitters in British East Africa. The old-est-established firm in Newland Tarlton and Co., chosen by ex-President Roosevelt to supply all his requirements and to receive and prepare for shipment his trophies. He has expressed himself as more than well 1 pleased with their work. In. Uganda Mr. A. E. Bertie Smith, an old pioneer and well-known hunter and traveller, equips travellers through to Egypt, via the Upper Nile, and undertakes to provide guides, hunters, and porters for those who wish toehoot-big game in Ugana*. 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A £25 license is necessary in Rhodesia: in British East Africa a £50 license is required by the authorities. The game laws arc of necessity under frequent revision, but the latest available information, allows the holder of a £50 license (which lasts for one year from date of issue) to kill or capture the following: — Variety. No. Variety." No. Buffalo (Bull) ... 2 Wnterlmck (of each ... 2 species 2 •-'Hippopotamus ... 2 Sable antelope (male) 1 "Eland ... ... 1 »Roan iintclope (male) 1 Zebra (Grevey's) ... 2 c Greater kudu (male) 1 Zebra (Common) ... 20 Lesser kudu ... 4 callotis ... 2 Topi '. 2 beisa 4 Coke's hartebecst... ij Variety. No.- Variety. No. °Neuniann's harte- Dik Dik ../ ... 10 beest. ... ... 2 Orlbi ... 10 Jackson's hartebeest 4 Suni 10 Hunter's antelope... 6 Klipspringer . ... 10 Thomas's kob ... 4 Beedbuck 10 Bongo 2 ««»elle ... ... 10 Impala . 4 Bushbuck; 10 Sitatunga 2 Colobi monkeys, of Wildebeest ... 3 each species, ... ft Grant's gazelle ... 3 Marabout ... ... 4 Gereniik ... ... 4 Egret of each species 4 Duiker ... ... 10 Cannot be killed in certain districts. Liens and lopards are classed as vermin, and consequently no license to kill them is required. s The cost after landing may roughly be estimated at from £100 to £150 per man per month. Buluwayo or Livingstone, would be the best centre at which to equip before starting the trip in Barotscland. Nairobi, the seat of Government, -with daily trains to north or south, with a good hotel, is decidedly the best centre from which'to start in British East Africa. Here the hunter is quite sure to find out definitely the best locality under the conditions, that necessary varv considerably with the season, for best finding the particular class of game which lie mav wish to -shoot. Here, at an altitude of 5000 ft to 7000 ft, the cool nights are very healthy, and the bracing air enables the visitor to walk very long distances without tiring., The midday heat will hot affect him inconvenientlv if he is supplied with a helmet or a double felt hat. With a good tent and ground sheet to ensure no dampness rising at night, good . nights' rests, are .ensured after, long days in the open air. ..././"/■■/■ ; : ; . r

A ROYAL FUNERAL PROCESSION.

THE IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE AFFORDED BY THE FUNERAL PROCESSION OF THE LATE QUEEN VICTORIA, ON ITS WAY THROUGH HYDE PARK, LONDON. ...';.-•'•'■;.'■•■•'■ ; v . \ ;• ■ _ .; ,'j , •'■ .'■ ■ ~ . .. .' '.'■''■'' ■'.. —Illustrated London News.