44 HUNTING TRIPS IN NORTHERN RHODESIA. 



to. On my way west I stopped at a village named Masumba, which I reached on 

 October ist. Masumba's village is situated on the Rukusi stream, about which I will 

 have more to say later on, as it is a good shooting place. The trees near the stream 

 were a good size, although water was only found in detached pools at this time of year ; 

 in fact, sometimes even pools are wanting, and water has to be obtained by digging 

 in the sandy bottom of the river bed. The Achewa people here were a strongly-built 

 looking lot, and I saw some very good-looking women and children, which were freaks, 

 I suppose, of a generally ugly race of bipeds. On October 4th I reached the 

 Luangwa river, and was very pleased to see its plentiful water supply after passing 

 through so much dried-up country. Getting a guide from a village, I crossed the 

 Luangwa on a man's back, and started out to try to find puku. The guide took me 

 to a lovely dambo with a big pool of water in the middle, which in the wet season 

 probably formed a lagoon or backwater of the Luangwa. I saw here a quantity 

 of game, such as waterbuck, impala, and puku. As I had not yet shot any of the 

 latter species I killed four of them, two having excellent heads. Had I wished I could 

 have killed twenty head that evening, but I was satisfied with picking out the best 

 puku rams. Early next morning I returned to the same place, having slept in a rest 

 house on the east bank of the river. First of all I saw a herd of zebra, a herd of water- 

 buck, three herds of impala, and a number of puku. All this game was in sight at one 

 time, as I sat on an ant-hill looking round. I tried to pick out the best head of the 

 pukus, but it was a difficult matter. At last I decided on one, and prepared to get 

 closer, but a herd of impala saw me and gave the alarm, and the puku bolted. There 

 was really too much game about for good hunting, for one herd always put the other 

 on the alert. Wishing to push on, I went back to camp to get off my loads. 



On getting to a village (headman's name Chipofu), I found two white men there 

 who were prospectors, and were working their way south after having passed through 

 a big stretch of country in their wanderings. These men were working for a big 

 copper company, and, judging from the carefully drawn maps they had made, must 

 have been doing good work. As it is always interesting meeting men who have 

 travelled, I put up my tent and spent that evening yarning to them. Many of these 

 old prospectors have had varied and exciting careers in many lands, and when thiey 

 can describe their experiences well, as these men could, they are most entertaining 

 companions. 



Their conversation sometimes verges on painting things in rather lurid colours, 

 but what would an old prospector be without his " cuss " words. Their hearts are 

 generally in the right place, and that is enough. Wishing them luck, I said good-bye 

 the following morning and went on to Nawalia. The morning of the 8th found 



