A Thousand Miles in a Machilla 



during the remaining fourteen he saw eland on 

 four occasions, roan antelope and hartebeest on 

 seven. 



After crossing the Wulangulu Hills, the rains 

 being well on, we began not only to see game but 

 also spoor in the dambos, showing the difference 

 the change of season made. Unfortunately, the 

 North- East Rhodesian licence did not permit of 

 my shooting in North- West Rhodesia. The early 

 part of the rainy season is the most favourable time 

 for tracking, but how long before the growth of the 

 grass renders shooting impossible we cannot say. 



Local conditions vary somewhat year by year in 

 all countries, and to meet with so-called abnormal 

 ones is a matter of no surprise to an experienced 

 traveller. The conditions in North- East Rhodesia 

 in November 1908 w^ere somewhat abnormal to our 

 disadvantage ; the three days' early rain we had ex- 

 perienced on the Bua river had been pretty general all 

 over the country, and had doubtless brought the leaf 

 on the trees and started the grass in the forests rather 

 earlier than usual. On the other hand, the normal 

 break of the regular rainy season was somewhat pro- 

 tracted, so that every day increased the scorching 

 heat of the sun, and the dried up, parched looking 

 appearance of the dambos ; they were consequently 

 absolutely devoid of game. 



In the neighbourhood of the rivers we saw puku 

 (cobus vardoni) in plenty ; they abound in many 

 places, and very pretty they looked with their bright 

 chestnut coats glistening in the sunlight. Reedbuck 

 were present in fair numbers, and might have been 



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