Occasional Notes. 119 



account of the more conspicuous birds observed will be found 

 in this Number. The following general account is extracted 

 from the ' Transvaal Leader ' of Sept. 20th, 1906. 



"A Shooting Trip in-Gazaland. — Up the Incomati. 



" Pbetoria, Wednesday. 



" Of the many trips and shooting expeditions recorded 

 from time to time in the public Press, that recently taken by 

 Dr. George Turner, M.L.C. (Medical Officer of Health for 

 the Transvaal), into Gazaland is of peculiar interest, by 

 reason not only of its novelty, but also from the fact that in 

 making the journey he passed through a populous native 

 country, and toured one of the principal and most interesting 

 waterways of Portuguese East Africa, in the River 

 Incomati. 



" In arranging his trip. Dr. Turner received the infor- 

 mation that at the dry season of the year there was usually 

 some two or three feet of w^ater in the shallower reaches of 

 the river. He had his boats specially built in Pretoria, and, 

 as they were only to draw 11 inches of water, he rested 

 content that he was well on the right side. When, however, 

 he arrived at Kilometre 53, below Ressano Garcia, on the 

 Delagoa line, and within easy distance of his jumping-ofF 

 place, he found to his dismay only 4 inches of water in some 

 parts of the river. Whilst the necessary pitching of the 

 boat-seams had been gone through, the party spent the time 

 in shooting the Guinea-Fowl and buck, and eventually made 

 a start on the 10th June. The difficulties of poling the boats 

 were many owing to the low water, but Sabi Fort was 

 reached on the 17th June, some small game being bagged on 

 the way. Leaving that place after a two days' delay, owing 

 to a hitch with regard to the shooting licence, the party 

 proceeded. In this section of the river several crocodiles 

 were shot and some koodoo sighted. The scenery was 

 magnificent, and the river- water clear and delicious to drink. 

 The banks of the river w^ere densely populated by what the 

 Doctor terms ' an infernally lazy native population.' 



