20 HUNTING TRIPS IN NORTHERN RHODESIA. 



Zebra {Equus burchelli). — Very abundant throughout this country, and I do 

 not know a part of the country where they do not exist. They are often found some 

 distance from water, but I believe they drink every day. There are various types of 

 zebras in Africa, but as far as I know only one variety exists here, which is Burchell's. 

 Sometimes the face marking varies slightly, for I have shot animals with brown above 

 the nose instead of black. They are all striped to within an inch or so of the hoofs. 



Lions kill a great number of these beasts, but the sportsman will not need to 

 shoot many, and at present only a limited number can be shot on the ^^25 licence. 

 They are stoutly built animals, and I think a big stallion would weigh 6oolb. 



Buffalo {^Bos coffer). — One of the finest trophies it is possible to get, and it 

 will take the sportsman some trouble nowadays to add a good buffalo head to his 

 collection, for they are very difficult to find, and have been reduced in numbers since 

 the rinderpest swept through the eastern portion of Africa from 1894 to 1896. I 

 think they are more difficult to spoor up than an elephant, for they travel a long way, 

 more especially in country where they have been much molested. They are gregarious 

 in their habits, although sometimes an old bull will be found wandering about by 

 himself. They are very dangerous when wounded, but not so much so as a lion or 

 elephant, though perhaps when charging they will be more difficult to stop than 

 either of these animals. A buffalo comes on with his head held high, and as their 

 bodies are low there is not much to shoot at. 



I have heard of a few accidents to sportsmen from buffaloes in this country, but 

 more people have been killed by elephants and lions. 



Care should be taken over the first shot at any dangerous game ; if this is well 

 placed there is little danger, for the first bullet is the telling one. 



It is careless, hurried shooting that leads to accidents, and often long shots, when 

 it might be possible to get closer and make more certain. 



A buffalo's heart lies very low in the chest cavity, and the bullet should be placed 

 below an imaginary line drawn across the centre of the body. I think a full-grown 

 bull buffalo would weigh from i loolb. to i2oolb., as they are heavy, thick-set animals. 

 A good head would be 4oin. outside spread. 



Hippo {^Hippopotamus amphib'ms). — In old sporting books this animal is often 

 referred to as the "sea-cow" or "sea-horse." Within recent years the numbers of 

 these animals have been much reduced, as there used to be a great demand for 

 their ivory and hides. 



The ivory used to be made into false teeth, but since the introduction of other 

 compositions it is no longer used for this purpose. The hide is used for making into 

 whips, called "sjamboks" in South Africa, and here " chikotis."- . They still .exist in 



