120 Occasional Notes. 



'''■ Bia Game. 



" From Magudo, where the travellers were hos})itably 

 entertained by Commandant Pimental, arrangements were 

 made for a trek across country for shooting. Two days' 

 trekking brought the party to a large vlei and native kraal, 

 but, owing to the presence of the natives, game was scarce. 

 Trekking on, the M'Karu Forest was reached, and here game 

 was found in abundance. At one spot close u})on 200 impala 

 and wildbeeste wxre counted, and, in spite of high grass 

 and the difficulty of getting at them, 20 impala and four 

 wildbeeste were bagged. Here also three giraffe were 

 located, but, despite a day was spent in the chase, nothing 

 came of it ; and although Mr. Hauptfleish saw zebra, they 

 also were too smart for the sportsmen. No lions were seen, 

 but wolves and wild dogs were numerous, and constantly 

 made things lively at night. 



" After two days at the forest, the party retired to the 

 river by way of the Manzi 'Mhlope native labour compound, 

 which Dr. Turner visited. It was then arranged that they 

 should proceed down the Incomati as far as the Kolwen 

 River, cross the Tswali Lake, make a detour, and come back 

 by way of the compound again. Taking to the boats, there- 

 fore, they reached the Kohven in four days, and found it so 

 narrow that they had the greatest difficulty in getting the 

 boats through. Camping for the night on the reedy banks 

 of the river, the sportsmen had their reward at sunset. Wild- 

 fowl were plentiful, and, as the Doctor put it, one could sit 

 at the evening meal with a gun on one's knees and shoot 

 Duck as they flew above the table. On reaching the Tswali 

 Lake, it was found of large extent, the trees on the distant 

 shore being only just discernible. Here another difficulty 

 cropped up. The wind was blowing briskly, and it was dis- 

 covered that the boat-boys could not row. After an un- 

 successful attempt to reach them. Dr. Turner crossed the 

 country on foot to the Manzi 'Mhlope compound, whence 

 boys were sent to take the boats back to the river. 



