Diary Page

September 1896

Tuesday September 1st 1896

Having a lot of work to do in camp we decided to take a day off, and also give our boys a rest. went on with all our skins drying and skinning out. Put up small bell tent to hang specimens in. I skinned both pheasant and partridge. Had a lot of mending to do - gaiters cut clean through. Our 26 boys sent back to bring along the loads came in to camp at 4 o'clock. The chief "Chilimane" arrived home and came down to call. K. went out late and shot a small buck called nyassa.

1 Nyassa

Wednesday September 2nd 1896

Both of us started off very early; went a long way and took our tea basket. Intended hunting buffalo, but came across a fine old eland standing asleep under some trees. K. dropped him very quickly being quite close to us. Stayed a couple of hours getting head off, and cut up, also taking photographs. Then hunted a long way round the foot of the Koppies till the sun at 101. drove us back to our tea basket about 12.30. Here we waited till 4 - skinning head, shooting birds, catching butterflies, then back to camp.

1 Eland.

Thursday September 3rd 1896

Visited by chief Chilimane before we were out of bed. In camp all day busy with head skins and birds. Re-wrapped a lot of the ones dried. Decided on making a flying camp at foot of the Koppies, distance being too far to hunt it early enough. About 4.30 we started away, taking the fly of tent only and about 20 boys. Quite dark by time we got fixed up at 6 o'clock. wind blew rather strong under the tent but we had a good night. Changed photo plates under a mackintosh sheet! – back-aching job.

Friday September 4th 1896

Had our cocoa and milk at 5.30 and away from camp by 6.15. Heavy fog and dew so grass very wet. An hour's walk brought us to fresh buffalo spoor which we at once followed up. About an hour on their trail and we saw a large troop feeding away on the opposite side of an open swamp. Leaving all our boys behind, K. and I with our two gun-bearers started our stalk. The last 500 yards had to be done on hands and knees - rough work in the rough burnt grass, especially when expecting we were within shot we found them moved on. Not far, however, and we came on them in a hollow. I fired first at a bull

standing broadside on - hit him fair through the shoulder. As he turned round K. gave him a 12 bore shot through the body and raked him with his second barrel. I caught sight of a second bull and got a second shot into the chest, dropping him stone dead. K. followed the troop some distance, having broken another animal's leg; however, he could not pick him up. I took several photos. Boys came over from main camp and took back most of the meat - Busy all afternoon skinning the big bull's head.

2 Buffalo.

Saturday September 5th 1896

Up again at 5.15 going out together. Found some fresh buffalo spoor and wasted 2 hours or more over it. We then separated; I went along the green past the Koppies over the neck and back to camp at 12.30 having to get the buffalo head done. Also skinned blue jay and hornbill. K. stayed out till dark and came across 3 eland, getting a couple and wounding the finest cow badly. Came across zebra spoor. Shot another green crested Tourocon.

2 Eland.

Sunday September 6th 1896

K. had a day in camp getting the two eland scalps cleaned and dried. I went out for a short time in hopes of coming across a hartebeest. Only a mile or two from camp I came on a grand old eland feeding on the green. Stalking up to about 120 yards I gave him a shot in the shoulder, and a second barrel as he moved off; both staggered him, but he galloped along, coming straight for me. As bad luck would have it my rifle stuck and I could not get reloaded, while the animal ran post within 20 yards of me, nearly running over my boys who I had left behind me. I got a long shot as he disappeared.

We started off after him, blood spoor being scattered all along - never dreamt that he would go far. Bad luck though took him after 1 ½ miles into awful grass, and though we spent 5 hours on it we had to give it up - terribly bad luck. Boys fetched eland meat in. Started 30 boys with loads from main camp to go to Naneway and return tomorrow. I skinned 4 birds in the afternoon. Got a fresh supply of tomatoes and eggs, ours being just at an end.

Monday September 7th 1896

As we were moving back to main camp we only went out for a short round. I had a long shot at a hartbeest, also zebra, but too far to do any damage. K. also had bad luck, breaking a sable bull's leg and losing it. Afterwards he shot a reed-buck. I went back to camp at 12.30 and packed, getting over here about 2. Busy skinning glossy starlings, and repacking loads. Our boys came in from Mandewa.

1 Reed-buck.

Tuesday September 8th 1896

Getting up extra early K. went on to the green to look for small buck while I got things ready for a move. Got away at 8.45 - did 3 hours to Manewa where we found the Capitan with our 30 loads. Stayed from 12 till 4.30 - employed time writing letters. I cut K's hair close with the clippers; he having no comb had a longer job; cutting mine with scissors and the teeth of clipping machine to raise it with. Did another good hour and arrived at water in a very deep spruit about 6.15. Had a funny place to sleep on, our cots being all downhill. Retired to bed early having nothing handy unpacked.

Wednesday September 9th 1896

Started quite early, getting away at 6.30. Pushing along through a country without any game in it some 10 miles got our first view of Chiperone, standing up in the far distance. About 2 ½ brought us to Kanga where we halted at the kraal to have a meal while all the boys got in. About 2 we struck down to some rather nice water pools where we camped. Sent 15 boys back for loads. After camping were busy paying boys wages for the month, also their week's food pay. Have at last struck a very pretty camp and hope to find some game, though the country is all long grass so has all to be burnt.

Thursday September 10th 1896

Got two boys from the Kanga kraal to take us to where game was. K. and I started out together, separating after two miles. I had a long tramp through long grass and only saw hartbeest. Turning back we started burning. Came upon two zebra: got a shot into one and after spooring about 2 miles came upon it standing badly shot and bleeding to death from the shoulder. I quickly finished it off. Then sent boys back for camera - had to wait 3 hours for their return. Took photographs, skinned zebra, and came direct to camp. K. came in having killed a buffalo which one of their fires had started out of some thick grass. It charged

him once or twice. He wounded a second badly. Got all our head skins hung up under a fly - looks like a museum of monstrosities. Busy with zebra head skinning.

1 Buffalo.

1 Zebra.

Friday September 11th 1896

Got up early before 5. Very cold. Went off to hunt a bit of green: found fresh buffalo spoor and followed it for nearly 2 ½ hours all through long grass. Expected to come up with them but unfortunately got on to another spoor of older making, so had to give it up- Came back early to camp to finish zebra head. Alexander shot some pretty birds in the afternoon.

Saturday September 12th 1896

Started out early on chance of coming across sable antelope. Hunted all our green as well as burnt ground. I came across 5 hartbeest: after two attempts to get within shot had a running shot which brought them to a stand. I quickly dropped one with a bullet through the shoulder and neck. Found first bullet had almost cut its throat. Hurried home with head and meat. Took camp photographs. Skinned birds and after tea started packing loads- K. also got a hartbeest head not worth keeping. our boys came in with loads left behind - Sun heat 116.

2 Hartbeest

Sunday September 13th 1896

Got loads packed and started away at 8 leaving 11 loads behind with the Capitan. Stopped 30 minutes at water and after 2¾ hours camped for midday meal. Sun awfully hot where we rested among some rocks on a pool of water. Met our boys returning from Makanga - sent 11 back - others returning with us. Started away again at 2.30 - had a long march, reaching Makanga at 5. 15. Rather a pretty kraal, and the first trees with shade we have come across. Have camped under one, making quite enough roof to our cots; mine gave way last night and at 12 o'clock I found myself on the ground. Crossed two splendid streams of running water; obliged to go down on

one's knees and drink at once. Saw a group of beautiful palms - longed to photo them but it was too late to stop the loads after our long march.

Monday September 14th 1896

Had a pleasant night at Makanga, leaving at 7.30. Marched 2 hours 15 minutes; halted in a pretty rocky stream where we had tea and I took photographs. Pushed on again at 1.30 in awful heat and bad road over the mountains. Reached a very large kraal called Nanienti about 4 o'clock where the Chief brought us presents of fowls and meal. I took more photos. Could get nothing out of them about game. Started on again half an hour and camped in grass 6 feet high. Had to cut places down with sickle for beds. Gave out food money, also paid up the full month's wages to all our boys.

Tuesday September 15th 1896

Had a splendid night despite our surroundings. Got on the march at 7, did 2 ½ hours through long grass and burnt forest to a large kraal - chief Kalapia - at the foot of the mountain Chiperone. Here we struck the river and halted 3 hours. Had a splendid bathe. sent 16 boys back for loads, leaving theirs at the kraal. Could get no news of game from them so pushed on for two hours more, reaching another kraal where we camped. Busy at night writing up letters.

Wednesday September 16th 1896

Seven before we got away from camp. Guides took us down about 6 miles. Passed a very pretty river with rocks and palm trees. K. took photographs of it. We then separated. I only saw and had a snap shot at a reed-buck; saw 5 pig also: no other spoor to be seen. Was lucky to shoot a fine Battern eagle on the way back - flew over my head. K.- was cut till dark having wounded and followed a vilderbeeste some distance. Fifteen of our boys came in with loads.

Thursday September 17th 1896

My leg was bad again so did not try and hunt. Started out with K. at 7; went about 6 miles to photograph a very pretty place on river Ingola - big rocks and huge tree palms. Coming home I went in for shooting birds; killed 2 hawks, a blue jay, a rain-billed cuckoo with some smaller ones. Busy finishing skinning the eagle and green pigeon. K. was out all day again, having wounded a wildebeest and sable, but failed to pick either up. I took a photograph of Chiperone - also our camp. First night we got a jelly to set - ate it before breakfast lest the heat should melt it.

Friday September 18th 1896

Intended to move camp at midday but K. went out and wounded a water-buck, which made him late in. I was not sorry for I was feeling my leg badly and had all the birds to skin. I packed a case ready to send away, pasting it all up with brown paper. Our boys came in with loads - sent 25 off at 2 o'clock to the next kraal. Writing letters again at night. Finished paying the rest of our boys their month's wages. Camp here called Nerunba.

Saturday September 19th 1896

Up at 5.15; packed and started away at 7.40. Left only 4 loads behind. Did two hours where we picked up loads and boys sent on night before. Went on one hour; struck a delightful stream where we halted 2 hours. Fed and bathed after a shave. Found several cones of the tree ivory. Passed some lovely views on the several streams running down from Chiperone. Started again at 2.30 and after a hard and long 3 hours 20 minutes march landed up at dark in the bed of a river on a huge circle of flat rock. Though a bad place for fever we decided to sleep here. Our cots look too comical. Frogs making an awful row. Left the Capitan back with some loads.

Sunday September 20th 1896

No hunting to be done so took an hour extra in bed; then I got up and took photos before the sun rose and with K. still in bed! After breakfast we went on to a kraal to interview the chief. Returning we sent 11 boys back for loads left and then moved up to the kraal where we repacked loads for two hours. Sent our gun-bearers back to fire the country. We then moved on at 2.30 for one hour. Found country bad and no water so returned to the river again, Intanbi. We met all our fires on our return - had to run through them - whole country seems on fire all round. Have made a pretty camp on top of hill, overlooking the rocky river bed; big palms and bamboos all round. Busy letter writing.

Monday September 21st 1896

Had a little excitement during last night. K. was moving his loaded rifle in tent when it went off; blew a hole through roof and fly, the end of cloth case flying all round on fire - lucky nothing worse. Left camp at 7 o'clock. I struck fresh rhino spoor; followed and at 9 o'clock came on two standing just over a ridge top - horns and nose only visible. Fired at one in the head - second barrel broadside rolling over the second one. Getting up and away in long grass we followed blood spoor for some 6 miles, at last giving it up. No other sign of game. Fired more grass. K. saw nothing and reported awful country. Made more ginger beer and lemonade. Had a splendid bathe in the river.

Wrote to- Mother - Miss Clapp - Mrs. Gould - Miss Eunice Ives - Mrs. Field - J. Dickinson - Mrs. Forbes Leith - R. M. Irwin - H. L. Ray - H. A. Hillier.

Tuesday September 22nd 1896

K. took his bed and a few boys and went over to prospect the ground near the Luagi. I got away at 8 and at once so fresh rhino spoor. Following for nearly 4 hours we at last came up with a cow and calf taking their midday rest in a bamboo jungle. Just as we reached it I saw something running in the bottom - turned out to be a leopard. However, just at that moment the rhino birds alarmed the rhino and they jumped up making a short rush. I rushed to the end to get down in the bottom and as I ran forward I met the rhino coming down the other side. I had a bullet right into her neck and shoulder, raking her, and I saw I had her,

for staggering forward I laid her all crumpled up with a second barrel in the neck. Then the fun began with rhino the younger; whether it took us for friends or foes, after rushing to its mother screaming, it came direct for us, scattering all the boys in quick time. I hardly knew what to do, but as it was rather too warm to be run round by a baby rhino I had to shoot her. A long wait of 5 hours in dense heat brought my camera with a crowd of hungry boys. The way that beast was simply hacked to bits was a sight to behold. Got back to camp at 5.15, then after tea developed 11 photos, retiring to bed at 12.20. Boys came in with loads. Sent 9 boys in to Chiromo with letters and goods.

2 Rhino.

Wednesday September 23rd 1896

Up and on the warpath at 5.45 - earliest yet. Set boys on to my rhino head. Went off to look over the river for my dead beast where we saw vultures. Picked up but lost some fresh rhino spoor in long grass. Missed a good chance at a sable antelope - only animal we saw - tried to get up to it but wind was against getting a shot. Back to camp at 1 o'clock; a splendid bathe laying in the stream - fish biting one's toes, and river falling over one - lovely: Then K. sent a chit, over having also killed a rhino. Wanted boys and more sundries for another night. Not even time for my shave - busy with rhino head. Also printed 6 photos - rather good.

1 Rhinoceros.

Thursday September 24th 1896

Had a late night 12.50 developing more photographs, but was away at 6 o'clock. When near the big Koppies we struck fresh elephant spoor of some 20 or 30. Passed our camp and picked up 10 bore, more boys and a few biscuits; then followed on their trail till 3.30 when they were still some miles ahead and evidently got a scare, so we gave it up. Zuachi, Becleanyon and I got into camp at 8 o'clock - pitch dark and been walking the whole time except 40 minutes. Alexander and the other boys never got in till morning. I was dead tired and could not look food in the face; been 14 hours walking - must have covered over 40 miles.

K. was still at the flying camp and got another old rhino bull.

1 Rhinoceros.

Friday September 25th 1896

Had an extra hour in bed, then set to work on my rhino head. K. came into camp about 11 o'clock. Both of us dead tired so took the day off - in fact we needed it. Mending clothes alone took us some hours; then our lovely plunge bath. I also printed some of the negatives taken - rather good. We both indulged in a shave, never having gone so long before. At night I again developed and got some rather good photographs. K. heard a lion roar near the Luagi.

Saturday September 26th 1896

K. went out to hunt across the river in hopes of coming on roan antelope. He shot two bush pig. I hunted up towards the big Koppies and after 2 hours bagged a nice water-buck bull, horns 25 ½ inch. Having sent his head into camp we tried hard to find sable antelope on some of the greens. Came on a second water-buck bull wounding him badly. I came on him laid down and finished him off - horns 26 inch. We then struck out for camp where I found K. struggling with his rhino head - odour horrible! I got both head skins off my water-buck.

2. Water-buck

2 Pig

Sunday September 27th 1896

Had a real day of rest, both being in want of it - "rest" meaning a hard day's work in camp. Got up at 6.30. I skinned my 2 water-buck heads and K- his bush pig- Then we had a ripping bathe, after which our first mail from England arrived - made us quite busy reading letters and papers. Nine boys arrived at 4-30 from Chiromo.

Letters: Mother - Yorks. Bank — 2 Schlesinger - July 13. 2.Weekly Times and Financial Times to July 31 & 27.

Monday September 28th 1896

Hard at work all day getting ready for moving camp after elephant. Paid off 65 of the Port Herald porters. Sent capitan into Hillier; got all the loads down from the kraal - found white ants had been at them. Put up small tent and intend leaving all our goods - heads and skins here with two boys in charge- Busy writing more letters as we have to send boys back. Hottest day yet - 2.50 - in sun 126.

Wrote: Mother - Lord Deramore – Lady Maitland – Schlesinger – Miss Pauncefote – P.C. Musters

Tuesday September 29th 1896

Busy packing for our move. Left camp in charge of 2 boys. Put up small tent, then packed all our loads round, hanging all skins above. About 11 o'clock we moved off with some 20 boys; struck across country, keeping along the river Chikoolie. After some hours walking and resting, heat being terrible, we camped at a delightful shady place. I took all the boys' photos; had a bathe; mended cot. While writing this elephant are to be heard all round breaking down the trees as they feed; may we drop across them tomorrow.

Wednesday September 30th 1896

Found our camp very pleasant - cooler than last and no mosquitoes. Up at 5 and heard our friends the elephant feeding and breaking trees close by. Needless to say we were both very soon on their tracks. About 11 hours brought us within hearing; found them badly placed, widely scattered and wind shifting. Could see them lazily wending their way along the other hill side. Nothing for it but to try and get up. Crossing a high ridge we suddenly found the whole crowd, about 40, down in the bottom among the green grass and bamboos. When about 150 yards off we thought they had got our wind as they became uneasy and quickened their pace. K. turned

2 elephant

down at once, but I ran along to try and head them. Now thoroughly awake to their danger the fusillade began. I fired at a bull in the neck which fell over and then turned to a huge fellow who was coming back. Hitting him with two barrels he still came on direct for me - splendid luck as I thought. To my horror I found my boy had bolted on taking my 10 bore rifle and given me my 450 minus the heel plate. Jumping behind a small tree, barrels in one hand, stock in the other, 3 elephant came up – my wounded one leading: huge brute stood 5 yards in front, switching his tail and pricking his ears. Still as a mouse I stood, when they moved on and released me from my ludicrous yet not the safest of positions. Fancy my wrath, never again such a chance; followed him up for 4 hours. K. went back on the one that fell, which he also had fired at and after a good stiff walk found him standing under a tree and finished him off.