Our Despatches from the Front (No. 145).
Page 17
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A Motor Lorry in the Wilds a East Africa.
M.T. EXPERIENCES 17%.7 EAST AFRICA.
(Continued from page 322.) When out one day with three of the lorries, one of our men shot a crocodile which we tried to skin, but; the smell was so awful that we could not stand it—he evidently was an ancient fellow ! All we did was to break two of the teeth with a hammer and push him back into the river.
A LeopaAl Up a Tree.
On the same expedition 1 caught sight of a leopard climbing up a tree, a habit which they have when they see anyone approaching ; you do not stand much chance if you go underneath without noticing the animal, for he drops flop! on your head !
Later on we had a few days hunting whilst waiting for supplies coming up from the railhead by ox wagon. I bagged three ostriches, two jackals and severa: guinea fowl. The latter resemble Very big hens, about the size of a turkey, and are just as nice to eat. If we had only been able to have some bread, vegetables, or e few biscuits to eat with the birds We shot we should have had an Al feast, but we only had flour and water. We Made some soup,however. with the guinea fowl, which tasted very fine, and we also boiled some mealies, a dish which is very filling.
A Rhinoceros Hunt.
We were informed by one of the blacks that he had seen a rhinoceros, so baying nothing better to do, four of us set out to see if we could find it. After about two hours walking through bushes and across two rivets, we found the footmarks of several. We followed the spoor for a mile or-two, coming eventually to a plain of long grass through which it was clearly evident the beasts had forced their way. We followed the track" through a swamp where we were up to our waists in water for about half an hour. This was, of course, the most likely place to find them, so we kept our eyes well open, as if they had seen us first we should have had to run for it. At last we came to dry land and could see the footmarks quite distinctly ; we concluded they were not far away. And there they were too, behind some rocks, five of them, four old ones and one young one.
Two Rhinos. Shot.
We got down on our hands and knees about 20 yards away from each other, after having knotted our helmets all round with grass so that our movements might be mistaken by the animals for the grass waving in the wind. When we were within 50 yards of the group, we all fired at the same rhinoceros, aiming just behind the front leg, which is the easiest place to kill this animal ; in fact, it is the only possible spot with the exception of the eye, which, however, is very small. Down he went! The others looked round to see where the noise came, from, so while they were standing thus, we fired and hit, another ; they then ran away in double quick time. We had to lie still until they were out of sight, for hacl they seen us, they would no
doubt have charged straight at us, and then there would havo been some running, as it is no use shooting at a rhinoceros on the move, its skin being about an inch-and-a-half thick, and a bullet will not go through it ; consequently the best thing to do is to run and get ,up the nearest tree. One good thing is that they are near-sighted, and it is easy to dodge them.
An Adventure with a Lioness.
The next morning, having been kept awake all night by the roar of lions, we went for a lion hunt-, but were out for about five hours without any result save the killing of two bucks. Nearer to camp, however, we were more successful, as we saw a lion and lioness about 500 yards from our tents. I hit the lioness in the shoulder, and one of my men hit her in the back. She rolled over and tried to run away, whilst the lion cleared off, but she was very lame and could not run ; another shot infuriated her, and she started to charge us ; this caused a little -excitement. The sergeant had a third shot and
missed.was now -about 30 yards from us. I got down on my knee and aimed straight for her head ; the bullet went through her chin and pierced her breast. She leapt into the air and rolled over, the sergeant finishing her with another shot. This lioness was a beauty, 10 ft. 9 ins. long. We drew lots for her skin ; but 1 am sorry to say that I drew a blank. Nevertheless, I cut out one of her claws which I shall have made into a brooch.