PREFACE 



J 



Bv r the kind permission of the Editor, the following obituary 

 notice is reproduced, with some omissions and verbal alterations, 

 from The Times of January 8th, 1917. 



" Captain F. C. Selous, D.S.O., the famous South African 

 explorer and big game hunter, was killed in action in East Africa 

 on January 4th at the age of 65. Last September he was awarded 

 the D.S.O. ' for conspicuous gallantry, resource and endurance,' the 

 official report adding that he set a magnificent example to all 

 ranks, and that the value of his services with his battalion could 

 not be overestimated. 



Captain Frederick Courteney Selous was born in London on 

 December 31, 1851. He was educated at Rugby and afterwards 

 at Neuchatel and Wiesbaden. At the age of 19 he left England 

 with 400 in his packet, determined to earn his living as a 

 professional elephant hunter. With this object he made his way 

 to the Kimberley diamond fields, then recently discovered. On 

 learning that the right season of the year for a trip to the interior 

 was not due for some months, young Selous joined a trading 

 expedition into Griqualand. In 1S72 he at last set forth for the 

 interior, that is, the territory now known as Southern Rhodesia, 

 then terrorized by the Matabele and their martial chief Lobengula. 

 Without the permission of this monarch no one might enter 

 M ttabeleland or the neighbouring territories. Selous approached 

 Lobengula about the matter, and the king was pleased to jest at 



53029 



