CHAPTER 111. 



HOW TO FIND GAME. 



AN early start from camp is advisable, and if the grazing grounds are far it may be 

 necessary to start before dawn. For sable, roan, eland, hartebeest, waterbuck, 

 warthog, &c., the dambos should be skirted before the game has left for the 

 thick bush. 



A dambo is an open stretch of ground with bush on either side. They take the 

 drainage of the forest land, and during the rains are practically marshes, while during 

 the dry weather they are, till fired, covered with tall, rank, thick grass. 



Where the old grass has been burnt and the fresh green grass is springing up is a 

 favourite place for game, and it comes here also to lick the salt from the burnt ashes. 



On cloudy, cool mornings, game will probably remain longer than on a bright day 



If no decent head is seen one should try to get on the spoor of an animal that has 

 been feeding there during the night or early morning. 



If found fairly early it ought to be overtaken when lying up at midday. 



Should no animals or spoor have been seen when the sun has got well up, it will 

 be best to try the bush. 



For kudu, bushbuck, impala, &c., the denser places should be searched, as 

 they seldom leave thick country. 



When there is a river or water in the vicinity of camp, their neighbourhood should 

 be observed for spoor of animals that have drunk during the night. 



Later in the day it would be of little use, as game would probably be some 

 distance off. 



Many animals travel great distances to drink, notably elephant, rhino, lion, and 

 zebra, while others are seldom found far from water, for example, waterbuck, 

 reedbuck, impala, puku, lechwe, and situtunga. The last two practically live most of 

 the day in water or marsh. 



When camping in a native village it is always worth while having a look at the 

 cultivated patches on the way out to shoot, as elephant, hippo, eland, and roan often 

 come to feed on maize during the night, sometimes right up to the huts, and the 

 elephants even pull down the basketwork stores to help themselves to the harvested 

 maize cobs ; while kudu invade the patches of castor-oil plants. 



