Colonel Harrison’s Big Game Hunting in Africa 1896 - 1910

By Rowena Smith

This article is an opinion piece focussing on Colonel James Harrison's hunting expeditions in response to information taken directly from the diaries of Colonel James Harrison. Due to the nature of the topic, you may find attitudes and content disturbing.

Many of his diary entries regarding animal hunting demonstrate that he was hunting for particular animal specimens for collection, preservation and future exhibition. Other entries show he was hunting game for meat for the expedition group (which could have more than 100 people in it).

Unfortunately there are many entries where animals have been shot and wounded but have evaded a ‘kill shot’. Harrison frequently describes trying to follow these animals to despatch them but is often unable to track them successfully. Some of the animals are found dead over the next couple of days, but it would seem some continue to live despite their injuries.

We have to remember that without men like Harrison bringing animal skins and heads back from the hunt that information and visualisation of many foreign animals and birds would not have been available to people in Victorian and Edwardian times.

Whilst attitudes to game hunting continue to change over time we have to acknowledge (whatever our own beliefs) that it still continues in many areas of the world.

The following are taken directly from the transcripts of the Harrison diaries.

Monday, August 24th, 1896

“-Suddenly we saw the rhinoceros-birds jump up and heard a rush in the grass…”

“The rhino, however, began of his own…”

“accord to walk our way and at last appeared round a bush corner - first a horn, then head, then shoulder. We agreed to fire together. K. let go with his 12 bore; the animal disappeared but rushed back into the thick. I got one fair sight of him and as luck would have it my bullet did its work. The animal went away some hundred yards into another thick patch. We followed and cautiously crept in, when a few yards ahead K. caught sight of the beast stone dead - it had quietly sat down like a dog asleep, its huge head on its fore legs like a dog. Of course, with the first instinct of a hunter we looked at the shots and found K's through the top of the neck - a little too high so merely went through the fleshy part. I was much delighted when K. told me my bullet had brought him down, having caught him fair in the side and raked it, evidently cutting the main arteries of the heart. This was indeed a bit of good luck in place of my many fruitless hunts.”

Monday, 17th February, 1908.

“During the day I got a curious beast, with very long tail and tongue covered with big scales. It took us some time to kill as it seemed to thrive on poisons.”

Sunday, January 17th, 1909.

“….. Awful work plunging into swamps up to the waist just after getting out of bed, but it is no use shirking for one has to get wet through. ………. Going on we came up to 5 elephant. After creeping up within a few yards of 3 I found all cows. One came up within a few yards and I was afraid I was in for firing, but luckily she went off and we retired gracefully. On our return I again heard elephant, and following them up soon came on to them. In this quite impenetrable stuff one has to creep almost up to them to see if any ivory. Unfortunately I got into a mess - they were cows and the beast only a few yards off got my wind and charged. I had no time to move and let go at her head. Almost at the same instant I ran and jumped as far as I could into the thick grass to the right. An awful row followed my shot as the whole crowd converged on the one I had tumbled over. Luckily they ran across and she on rising turned after them. I never saw such a mess of blood and I was curious to see where I had hit. I was soon after her as I heard her blowing and stamping and shrieking, showing she was about done. “

“Poor old thing had only gone 100 yards and dropped. My bullet had gone through the trunk, into the chest, and evidently into the lungs, for I never saw an animal so quickly stopped. Naturally to kill a cow makes one hate the sport, but it is really foolhardy to attempt shooting in such awful country. We were well out of what might have been a nasty fix.”

Monday, January 31st, 1910.

“At last I got up the opposite side of a big bush and found its huge head facing me about 8 yards off. Never dreaming of no ivory I fired and killed it stone dead. To my horror I found I had shot a cow. Naturally I was much upset.”

“I certainly begin to think I am having a bit of hard luck… I did another useful stalk and got up within 10 yards; then could see its trunk only feeding off a big bush. I was standing in a rather open track, about 10 yards long, when suddenly the beast walked in at the other end. Out went its huge ears and of course it came for me. I just had time to fire at its head and jump aside, but so close did it pass that its trunk could easily have just picked me up!! Luckily my shots must have knocked it silly or nothing could have saved me or my boy. It turned off and went dashing along but very badly wounded. I soon got two or three more snap shots into it and then broke a foreleg. The poor beast then stuck its tusks into the ground to try and support itself. I wasted several cartridges over it, chiefly 350, as I could not get a proper shot at it. Found it had two nice tusks - should say over 40 lbs; nice clean ivory. I found the poor beast absolutely riddled.”

About the author

Rowena Smith - is a retired health care professional having worked in many clinical and managerial roles. She now enjoys volunteering as a citizen researcher, as well as continuing her own hobbies including sewing, knitting and travel.