PREFACE, 



Hv" the kind permission of tlie Editor, the following ohituarv 

 notice is reproduced, with some omissions and verbal altei'atiuns, 

 from Tlie Tiinex of dannarv Stli, 11)17. 



"Captain F. ('. Selous,^ D.S.O., the famous South Afi-iean 

 explorer and big ganu' hunter, was killed in action in East Africa 

 on January 4tli at the age of (55. Last September he was awarded 

 the D.S.O. -for conspicuous gallantry, resource and endurance,' the 

 official report adding that he set a nuignificent example to all 

 ranks, and that the value of his services with his battalion c*)uld 

 not be overestimated. 



Captain Frederick Courteney Selous was born in London on 

 December 81, iSol. He was educated at Kugbj and afterwards 

 at Neuchatel and Wiesbaden. At the age of 19 he left England 

 with £iOl) in his p > -ket, determined to earn his living as a 

 professional elephant hunter. With this object he made his wav 

 to the Kimberley diamond tields, then recently disoovereil. On 

 barning that the right season of the year for a trip to the interior 

 was not due for some months, voung Selous joined a tradintr 

 e\[)edition into (Iricpialand. In 1S72 he at last set forth for the 

 interioi-, that is, the territ:)ry udw known as S )athern Ivhodesia, 

 then terrorized by the Matabele and their martial chief Lobengula. 

 Without the pernaissiou of this monarch no one might enter 

 Mitabeleland or the neighbouring territories. Selous approached 

 Lobengula al)out the matter, and the king was pleased to jest at 



