SPORT IN MOZAMBIQUE 



These natives came to advise me that elephants, in 

 large numbers, were devastating every night their 

 maize-fields. After an inspection of their footprints, 

 I was satisfied that there were some animals of very 

 large size in the herd ; and several days afterwards, 

 I one morning took up the trail, but without being 

 able to overtake them, on account of the great start 

 they had in front of me. I accordingly change my 

 plan ; and decide to start with several negroes, of 

 whom three are excellent trackers. I take as much 

 as is absolutely necessary for four days, and make up 

 my mind not to return till I have either shot the 

 pachyderms or exhausted my supplies. In the evening 

 we camp on the bank of a small river, the Inhampita, 

 a tributary of the Tchimulilo. In the night a rain 

 which nothing can keep off commences to fall. As 

 I had no tent, and as the negroes, confident of good 

 weather, had not made a shelter of maize-stalks, I 

 philosophically he on cobs under the protection of 

 my cloak, which is not long in becoming soaked 

 Shortly before dawn the rain ceases ; we dry ourselves 

 at the fire as well as we are able ; and so soon as it is 

 day make a start. Already the marshes are well 

 nigh dried up, and I determine, as a matter of pre- 

 caution to fill my water-sack at the stream near 

 which we had encamped. Unfortunately, two buffaloes 

 had come during the night to wallow there and had 

 transformed it into a filthy slough. No matter, at 

 the next marsh we shall obtain a supply of water 



(98) 



