The Begamiti Flats 



double eight-bore Paradox, carrying ten drams 

 of powder and a three-ounce specially hardened 

 bullet, a '577 double Express Blackpowder, and 

 a double hammerless ejector '303. 



At Fontesvilla my black boy Tom joined me, 

 having come down the coast to Cape Town in one 

 of the warships, after the Nimbi palaver. I also 

 engaged a professional hunter, Kopping by name, 

 to take me out on a short trip in the immediate 

 vicinity. For at the time of which I am writing 

 buffalo, hartebeest, wildebeest, lions, quagga, 

 and bushbuck could be obtained by going out 

 from the hotel and returning the same evening. 

 Professional hunters made a fair living by 

 shooting game of all kinds, selling the flesh to 

 the hotel and others, and the horns and skins 

 to visitors. 



Kopping could only come with me for a short 

 while, as he was bespoken by another sportsman, 

 who was expected any day. 



We engaged a few boys as porters, bought in 

 sufficient stores, and marched for the Begamiti 

 flats. 



Being somewhat late in setting out, we were 

 unable to complete the desired distance in the 

 first day, and therefore camped in a small grass 

 hut of which Kopping often made use. It was 

 almost dark when we came on the place, and 

 the entrance was so low that I had to go down 

 on my hands and knees to crawl into it at all. 



73 



