Diary Page

January 1910

Saturday, January 1st, 1910.

Took things easy today. Tried my new plates on the gramophone. Took some photos of new house. Wrote some mail for England.

Wrote: Bertie Stern. Gertie Millar. Almeda and Ciente. Mrs. Wrohan.

Cards to: Rita Biegood. P. Clinton. A. Maxwell.

Sunday, January 2nd, 1910.

Decided to stay another day so sent out boys to hunt food. Rokie was anxious to get away to Toro, and as Aladina had not sent him gold to clear his ivory, I asked Mr. Van Marcke if he would take a £100 cheque of mine so as to free Rokie - this he did, - so I lent D. Rokie £100 at 20% interest, he also to pay any loss of exchange. I also sold him my grey mule and small saddle bridle for another 500 Rupees. An old Dutchman came in from Kilo - aged 70 - wonderful active man. I finished up my letters.

Monday, January 3rd, 1910.

Up early to get all loads settled. Sent 7 Toro men to Irum, and 5 others back to Toro, only keeping my old Uganda party. Saw Rokie and the Dutchman off. Left Syce with my mule - moved off at 7 a.m. and did 4 ½ hours - crossed a lot of small waters. Reached camp called Lassu about 12 o'clock & had a great reception. All the Mackenzies seem delighted to welcome us back - had quite a triumphant procession from village to village. Of course clothes are now wanting. Food for the boys with eggs, tomatoes & chickens rolled in. Elephant and buffalo are reported numerous close below us in the forest. Got out my rifles. Rather nice to think one may now start and do a bit of hunting.

4½ hours Lassu

Tuesday, January 4th, 1910.

Went off at daylight hunting in forest - followed one spoor for 3 hours, then a cow and calf came into same, and when they crossed the Malengo river we turned back. Half-way home we jumped two elephant. I went after them a bit of way and got close up to a small cow - so retired. Saw hardly any spoor at all - after 9 hours we got home very tired and weary - Walun gave us a big dance at night.

Wednesday, January 5th, 1910.

Started out at daylight - went along towards Matone. Came on fresh elephant spoor about 8 o'clock and followed t111 about 12 when I got up to one or two - found them cows. Then I crept up to a 35 lbs. bull which unfortunately charged home - and I had to stop him - evidently we had about a dozen round but in this dense jungle where you have to actually creep up to the very bush they are standing at - it's risky work. My pygmy friend got in front once and suddenly he turned and bolted past me like a Dorando. I waited & then peered carefully round the bush, and I retired quickly but more dignified! There 10 yards off was a cow & calf facing us with her huge ears out on suspicion - thank goodness we all got clear. I went up to another and disgraced myself. I fired & dropped a nice 50 lbs. bull - though firing through dense bush I had rather to guess my aim - it fell with a crash, downhill and out of sight. Several others stampeded & so I was on guard against them. When I went up I found my beast had got up and cleared - blood spoor, but we could not stick to him among the others & the boys were far from keen. I believe this is about the first elephant

I have fired at and not brought to bay. We then returned to the dead one, photographed him and boys cut bits off. Started at 2 o'clock and had till 5.15 before we reached camp, weary, worn & wet, for it poured nearly all the way back. Two such trying days makes hunting rather too hard work.

1 elephant. 4 ft. 3 in. x 13 inch. (27 lbs.

(25 lbs.

Thursday, January 6th, 1910.

Had a terrific downpour during the night - lucky I had not intended to hunt. About 2 o'clock I started to move my flying camp 3 hours into the forest. The Chief lent me several men to carry posso - and I took in about half the porters. We got pretty close up to where the corpse was lying and found half the countryside there - all meat cut up and the usual fights on. It is very nice being camped right in the forest, but very moist. Boys are hard put to making any shelters tonight. No grass here to build huts.

Friday, January 7th, 1910.

Another day of very hard work and no luck. Worked from 6 till 3.30. Tracked up a crowd of elephant - crossed the Loia river - in flood - only just managed to keep a footing. Just as I was waiting to see a big elephant's ivory, a wretched cow came up behind and of course stampeded everything. I came back almost

torn to shreds and quite tired out - no one knows the hard work and dangerous job hunting in this dense forest, especially when you get a herd together. Saw some nice colobus. Sent all extra porters back - some returned later with grass to build huts. Thunder in distance. Forest again quiet every scrap of meat having been taken away - old chief been himself, also Kanessi the pygmy - both are good trackers but soon retire to the rear when they hear an elephant cry. Very peaceful camping in the forest shade - only want a bit of luck.

Wrote: Lily. Van Marcke. Rokie.

Saturday, January 8th, 1910.

Went out at 6.30 - guides took us a rotten road up to the top of a mountain - what on earth they expected to find up there goodness knows. Got down again & hunted round till about 11 o'clock - jumped two buffalo - rain then started and we got back about 1 o'clock soaked to the skin. As we get little sun here one has to make up huge fires to dry all ones things - after that I have to start and mend clothes - coat & breeches getting torn to ribbons after a morning's hunt. Boys got some grass huts built now - rather more waterproof than their blankets and leaves.

Sunday, January 9th, 1910.

Boys groused about no posso and wanted to go to Lassu and have Sunday off. Just as things were getting warm several loads of posso arrived, but we did not get a start till 8 o'clock. Had a very long tramp round on a single elephant, as usual took us across the Loia, but gone down 8 inches. Stuck to attempts till 3 o'clock when I found all the same big herd and all on the qui vive. Gave things up & turned homewards on our long tramp, quite tired & disappointed. Just before coming to the Loia - ran on to two or three more elephant and luckily caught one just above the water alone. I crept up to it and we met on top of a ridge, but before it got into its swing to turn round on me I had him down. Only a middling bull about 40 lbs. tusks but I fear nothing big about here. Boys would waste time to cut meat and getting late. Starting along river to find a food had a tremendous bit of luck. Saw bathing in the river 150 yards off 2 red buffalo - I had to wait for a rifle and then crept up to about 120 yards when the biggest bull got uneasy and made for the bank. I fired & made a good shot, crippling him in the back so that he could not get up. Then the other bull got

frightened and luckily galloped down the side of stream half its depth in the water - of course it meant certain death as it cantered past only 50 yds off - a second shot from the 350 ended both their struggles. We then towed the one across the river & dragged it out on the rocks near the second, nearly opposite the elephant. It was now nearly 4.30 & I hurried up, as it is over 2 hours to camp - left my four boys to sleep and foolishly gave them my one matchbox. To cut a story short my 2 guides clean lost themselves, and Augustine and I had to lay down hungry and cold on a few leaves & pass a long weary night. Two eggs in the morning and 2 chocolate creams was all I had for 36 hours. Luckily we had no rain till daylight, then we got a move on and finally struck camp about 9 a.m! Jolly tired.

1 elephant. (25 lbs.

(25 lbs.

2 red Buffalo

Monday, January 10th, 1910.

Found a lot of English mail - glanced through them and had a hasty breakfast. Put on a fresh pair of breeches as old ones torn to ribbons, then started back with 8 or 10 boys to find our trophies - even in daylight it was 3 o'clock before we could find them. Got the 2 heads of buffalo and took photos, then hurried back to camp. Got home at 7 worn out. All the country side on way to fetch meat.

Letters arrived: Mrs Van Marcke. 3 Lady Glover. Nat..of India, Entebbe. Mrs Wrohan. B. Fowler. Lady Beaumont. Wills. J. de G. Delmege. Hausing & Sons. P. Almeda.

Tuesday, January 11th, 1910.

Was too tired out to sleep. Up early and started doing both buffalo heads - being 2 days gone I fear I will not be able to save scalps - one smells strong now. Boys have cut them about terribly. All our porters except 6 slept here & went off to bring in all the buffalo meat. Half the countryside are out now after meat - of course all squabbling. No earthly chance of drying skins in this forest - am trying to do it by fire - very risky work, but only chance. Had another heavy storm this afternoon - first time for several days have had time to turn round and do a bit of writing up & mending. Been far too hard worked this last week.

Wednesday, January 12th, 1910.

Our old friend Lesee slept close by - worried at all his meat being stolen, so I promised to go out again and try my luck nearer to his own hill. Got on a fresh spoor about 8 o'clock, & after jumping it twice I got a snap head shot. Luckily it chucked up its head and I saw its ivory - should say about 50 lbs. tusks. Was back in camp by 12 o'clock - easy day - usual storm at 5 o'clock. One of the buffalo scalps I fear going wrong.

1 Elephant. 43 lbs. each. (13 ½ x 5ft.10in.

(13 ¾ x 5ft. 8in.

Thursday, January 13th, 1910.

Had a long uninteresting day as no hunting boys available, all gone after tembo meat. I spent day drying & looking after buffalo scalps - also sent letter to Van Marcke. I sent 4 men to help cut out tusks - Chief Lusse and all his dependants arrived about 11 o'clock & went straight on. It is an awful job curing these scalps, especially when they were 2 days gone before skinning. Camp begins to smell a bit - time to move along. Head gun boy has fever.

Wrote to: Phyllis. Wills. B. Fowler. Litchfield. Moses. Struthers. Haueing. Almeda. Rigby Bell-Irving. Broadley. Leakey, Mrs. Hopwood. Lily. Heatley.

Friday, January 14th, 1910.

Chief & my porters did not come in till late so I moved out of camp about 10 o'clock & got up to our old camp at Lassa in under 3 hours. Tusks came in & I was disappointed to find them only 42 lbs. each. Boys all busy making shoes out of buffalo skin. Question of presents begins now - for Lasse I have got a khaki suit - shirt - boots - dottee of kekka - blanket - safety pins - needles - cotton - stockings - razor - soap & matches & salt. Sent porter in to Kuise with note and buffalo heads.

Saturday, January 15th, 1910.

Up at 5 a.m. - left Lassu much to all the people's regrets - all along the line of route our friends at different villages came along to say goodbye & beg us to return. About 3 hours along road I met Van Marcke's mule & syce, mine having gone to Kilo, sold to Mr. Crawley. We reached the little village on main road about 10.30 and then I went on to Kuise, 50 m. with my bed and 3 boys. I found Carr & George there with a big ivory safari from Welle. Mail came in about 4 p.m. - letters & papers.

4 ½ Hours.

Letters from:

George Banke - December 9th. J.Penman-Browne, Incs.R.Co., Mache de Ries, Peru, S.A. (Sept.29) Edith L. Dobson. Lily - December 15th. Dorothy Walpole. Hollis. Gladstone. Mary - December 9th.

Papers of:

F.A.Standard - December 25th, January 1st.

D. Mail posted November 25th & December 2nd.

Weekly Times - November 25th.

Wrote:

G. Banks. Hollis. Mrs. Van Marcke. D. Rokie.

Sunday, January 16th, 1910.

Had early coffee and eggs & left my kind host. Found boys all in camp at Nasimbuku, rather hilly but pretty country - heaps of villages & food all along - 3 ½ hours from side road to Lassu's and Masimbuku and one hour before to Kuise. Fingers festering so am sitting with a flour poultice on.

4 ½ hours Kuise to Masimbuku.

Monday, January 17th, 1910.

Started off at 4.30 & found first hour a very bad road in dark - also two boys taken on bolted with ivory and salt lucky nothing more valuable or useful. Had a good long march into Irumu - took about 5 hours. Found no one speaking English - all away excepting Mons.

5 Hours - Irumu.

Tuesday, January 18th, 1910.

Decided to visit my little people, so left with 30 porters and a few loads about 11 o'clock - crossed ferry and then 45 m. to river, where swinging bridge took us 2 hours to cross. After that a new road brought me to my old camp called Baruke another 3 hours. Find a new village, and hear my little people are still near by.

4 Hours - Baruke.

Wednesday, January 19th, 1910.

Off hunting at daylight - awful work walking through the dripping wet grass up to one's shoulders. Fog very thick so sat on hilltop till we spied a dozen buffalo feeding a mile off. Made our way over and got on spoor - then I made a terrible mess of things - as everything was so dripping wet I delayed loading rifles and was just going to when bad luck - we jumped two grand buffalo, 15 yards off, which had laid down. Never shall I have such a glorious chance. Of course all stampeded & though we followed them into long buffalo grass they never let us get near. Have sent off men to tell my little people I am here, but fear most of them have split up and gone to their relations in other parts - I hear Matuka is still near so hope to see him. Took a spool of Baroke's people round camp.

Thursday, January 20th, 1910.

Simply wasted our whole morning. Chief took us to a kraal and through 2 miles of dripping wet grass, over one's head, & then I found he was after shamba elephant. By the time we got away on to open buffalo ground the sun was blazing hot & of course far too late as they soon lay down in the long grass. Got back to camp by 10 - earliest day - and makes a long time to pass. However, I had a lot of repacking to do - mending and writing - and about 3 o'clock in stalked Matuka, who had come in from a long way - he had his old fustian breeches but not improved in looks! He told me the others were all squandered about both his wives having left him. I gave him a lot of presents and he went off back to look up Mafutimingi. I took his photo reading the Bystander and smoking cigarette.

Friday, January 21st, 1910.

Another unlucky day - met a leopard walking in burnt grass, fired and rolled it over - while loading it suddenly jumped up and rushed away into some dense jungle - impossible to find it - then I missed a reed-buck for food. Sent away 18 porters. Awfully hot day. Matuka came in again. Disturbed some elephant when shooting at leopard.

Saturday, January 22nd, 1910.

Another rotten useless morning's work & usual long day in camp. Went out in direction where the herd of buffalo generally locate - some tall thick elephant grass, and on arriving there, wet to the skin, found some natives had burnt it, of course frightened everything away for miles! Seven porters arrived from Irumu and 2 went in with loads. Machindi also came in with note from Rokie.

Sunday, January 23rd, 1910.

Up at 4.30 - packed camp & started out to hunt on my way to Irumu, telling porters to follow on in 2 hours time. Found my pet bit of bush full of elephant and buffalo, and for 3 hours I tried to dodge the elephant and get in at the buffalo, but quite useless. At last I cut their spoor - gone out the far side. Followed for one hour and came back to find the porters had seen 6 elephant close by - one huge beast. Lunched on way at trestle bridge - reached Irumu at 2.30. Dined with the Com. General Adolphe de Menlemeester and Chef de Zone; Mons. Sorensen; also found Mons. H. Pirmez, a Belgian sportsman.

Letters:

D. Rokie. J. Van Marcke.

Monday, January 24th, 1910.

Busy packing - Cp. Wilson arrived - also the post. Meals at the mess, but dined with the Com. General. Box of cartridges arrived at last.

Wrote:

Almeda (chocolates)

Vic. Darling.

Mys. Preston.

Lady Mowbray.

MIS C..Constable.

Post Cards: W. Burton. Carvey.

Tuesday, January 25th, 1910.

Got a fairly early start - porters marched well and did to Kifuka in 4 ¾ hours, arriving about midday. Found all my old friends & had a great welcome. Lamboorah cama to tea, and then a boy ran in to say a big elephant in the shamba - went out and got within 8 yards of it but only one tusk, though a fairly good one. Of course the inhabitants were disappointed - river high.

Letter from J. Ebbley.

5 Hours - Kifuka.

Wednesday, January 26th, 1910.

Found elephant had been in shamba among potatoes, and only just left when we got on spoor - being very dry among the bushes & leaves one has to take plenty of time & go very carefully. About 2 hours brought us up to 3 already almost finished feeding. My old friend made a very sudden bolt to the rear, having come face to face round a bush. I went ahead and never went closer, about 8 yards off - quite facing - and tried to work a bit to get a side shot - unluckily only another one tusker - after waiting a long time. I had to snap it, dropped, got up & I gave it two 350 in body - only went about 300 yards & fell stone dead.

1 elephant (1 tusker) 64 lbs.

Thursday, January 27th, 1910.

Got up and found elephant in the shamba - been rooting up potatoes within 100 yards of my tent. We had to follow them across the river and about an hour brought us close up - I found 3 elephant well out in mid stream, half covered in the water, heading up stream with their trunk end just above the water - another I found peacefully asleep laid in the water with his back and head on the bank. I looked over at him not 5 yards below me. As he was quite happy I waited about 15 minutes to try and see the ivory of the other three but only saw one fairly good. I then went back & had a good look at my sleeping friend & found he had very good tusks - so I gave him a bullet in top of head - jumping up I gave him the other barrel in the ear which dropped it, only to struggle up again - a shot from the 350 in side of head, however, finished him off. The others got to the bank before I could get back to see them. It was a very pretty sight to see them all bathing. Intended bringing tusks in tonight, but Augustine returned when dark saying only one was cut out. Mackenzies busy cutting up meat.

1 elephant. 20 ¾ x 20 ¾ x 7ft.6in.

" " 7ft.3in. 105 lbs. each.

Friday, January 28th, 1910.

Had a stupid morning all round the blessed shambas - saw nothing but fresh buffalo spoor - far too thick to follow. Went down the riverside about 3 o'clock but again drew blank - only seeing a crocodile. Tusks came in just before dusk and astonished me - weighed 105 lbs. each.

Saturday, January 29th, 1910.

Crossed the river and tracked 3 elephant a long way down when they crossed the river. We went on another hour and found some Mackenzies with a boat who came across and took us over. We then found two of them were old friends, who were delighted to see me - took us to their nice little village consisting of just 3 huts. Gave us Indian corn and bananas and would go hunting with us - we had a very hard morning - awful thick tiring bush. I had two hours at 2 a.m. by moonlight - all round the shamba.

Wrote to: Miss Gladstone. Lady Glover. Wills. Lily. Osborne. Rokie.

Sunday, January 30th, 1910.

Went up to Lamboorah's shamba and took up elephant spoor. Followed into awful Jungle - came up in 1 ½ hours. Had to creep to it; got within five yards of its tail - could see nothing. Suddenly got suspicious & swung round - saw good ivory and was lucky in dropping him dead - bad luck, another one tusker, but scales 93 lbs. . Have made porters fetch in a lot of meat to buy their food with.

Took some photos and then went to cut another spoor close by. Followed up for an hour & then I made an awful mess of things. Crept up in narrow path - found a big tusker facing me about 12 yards off - standing behind two or three forks of a branching tree. I waited some minutes as it was awfully dark - could hardly tell tree from elephant - beast got suspicious and I foolishly fired at his head & when swinging round a second into his side - I fear I must have hit the tree with first shot. Followed some distance but little blood, & gave him up - bad luck. In afternoon I went up to see Lamboorah at his fine new house.

1 Elephant. 1 tusker only. 7ft.6in. x 17 ¾ = 93 lbs.

Monday, January 31st, 1910.

Went up Lamboorah's way and soon got fresh shamba spoor. One of my guides saw the elephant and said good ivory - so we followed on a long trail. I then did one of the best and longest stalks I ever did - had to creep on hands and knees for some distance, move all leaves and sticks - besides cut off hundreds of the big noisy sword edged caladuin leaves. 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 - we found on going back the cow had crossed the other spoor and trackers had not noticed.

I certainly begin to think I am having a bit of hard luck. Returning to the place where spoors had crossed, we took up our original beast and in a mile came up. 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 & of course it came for me. I just had time to fire at its head & 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. We then came home and had refreshment with Lamboorah. Gave boys 2 Rupees advance & 250 beads backsheesh - which delighted them very much. My two porters came in with letters & one week's papers, also some milk, jam and cocoa from the Chef de poste.

1 Elephant. 5ft.2in. (x 16. 45 lbs.

(x 15 ¾. 42 lbs.

1 accident.

Letters from: Almede. Delmage. Pres.Roosevelt. Cp. wilson.

Daily Mail, Dec.10 to 16.

Fin. News, Dec.10th.

Dec.3rd missing = Weekly Times, Dec 10th

Bystander, Dec.16th.

B.E.A.Standard, Jan.8th.