6 HUNTING TRIPS IN NORTHERN RHODESIA. 



must be getting shot out. I think railways rather spoil the romance of game 

 shooting, but this, of course, is only a matter of opinion. Comparatively few 

 sportsmen have visited this country (Northern Rhodesia), probably on account of 

 its inaccessibility, although now that the proposed Cape to Cairo railway has reached 

 Broken Hill in North-Western Rhodesia, this does not apply to the same extent that 

 it did when the only route to this country was via Chinde on the east coast. 



I still think the most interesting way to get to Northern Rhodesia is by Chinde, 

 and then up the Zambesi to either Chiromo or Tete. Coming in vid Chiromo, one 

 passes through Nyasaland (formerly known as British Central Africa) ; and by Tete 

 the road passes through Portuguese East Africa to reach North-Eastern Rhodesia. 



I have travelled by all the routes, by some on several occasions, but the first 

 time I came through Nyasaland, passing through Zomba, the head Government 

 station, where I stayed for some months before I came to Northern Rhodesia. 



As I have previously mentioned, it was the shooting that attracted me, for ever 

 since I was able to handle a " Gem " air gun and a rook rifle, the smell of gunpowder 

 has always been a delight to me. One of my favourite amusements at home was 

 duck shooting with an old muzzle-loading 6-bore duck gun, for there were not so many 

 breechloaders then. I much preferred this and wildfowl shooting to field shooting, 

 for it took me into wilder places. 



The wilder a country is the greater the charm of shooting in it. The mere 

 killing is only a secondary consideration to a lover of wild nature, and it is the 

 surroundings that ever add a zest to the sport. 



At home this can be experienced to a certain degree, for who can compare duck 

 and wildfowl shooting on some lonely mere, or on the seashore within sound of 

 the sea, with tramping fields after hand-reared pheasants ? 



The big-game hunter has been the first in many of our colonies, and if it had 

 not been for him many a land that is painted red on the atlas would own some other 

 colour, and be under a different flag than the Union Jack. 



To travel in this country, accompanied only by a lot of savages, the hunter has 

 to be self-reliant. 



The natives have to be treated firmly at all times, and harshly occasionally, for 

 whatever the missionaries or others may say, the only respect they give is through 

 fear. By this I do not mean that they have to be treated unkindly, but any kindness 

 bestowed on them should never be tempered with familiarity, or they will cease to 

 respect and obey. 



One of the pleasantest forms of shooting is to wander out by oneself when the 

 heat of the sun is beginning to wane, and when it is getting cool. The animal life 



