XXVI 



RECREATION. 



BIG GAME HUNTING IN AFRICA. 



Mr. C. B. Tiley's question in November 

 Recreation induces me to write about 

 my hunting experiences in the dark conti- 

 nent. 



My starting point was Tunis, after leav- 

 ing the ship. Visions of lions, etc., caused 

 me to provide myself with a powerful 

 weapon, an 8mm. repeating rifle; or rather, 

 a carbine, somewhat lighter than the ordi- 

 nary hunting rifle. The first opportunity 

 I had was in the vicinity of Gabes. There 

 I shot my first gazelle, a buck. They can 

 be easily driven by an experienced driver 

 and the hunter is sure of a good shot if 

 he keeps cool. 



In that way I shot my buck. I could 

 not see him on account of a small hill 

 until he suddenly came in view not ioo 

 steps away. I lay under cover, ready, but 

 did not want to shoot until he showed his 

 side. Instead of doing so he kept his po- 

 sition. Though the hot African sun was 

 fairly blinding, there was nothing else to 

 be done but shoot as best I could. I heard 

 the bullet strike. The buck jumped 

 high in the air, fell, and was dead when I 

 reached him. The bullet struck some- 

 what low, but tore half the heart away. 



The following month, May, I prepared 

 for a longer excursion in the desert for the 

 purpose of hunting the so-called sand 

 gazelles, Gazella loderi, and Mendes' ante- 

 lope. These can only be hunted success- 

 fully by employing a great number of 

 drivers. However, I tried creeping up 

 to them and, favored by a few sandhills 

 and scanty bushes here and there. I shot 

 a number of gazelles in that way; also one 

 antelope. A second was killed by one of 

 my Bedouins with his long flint lock rifle. 



A terrible sirocco forced us to leave our 

 hunting grounds sooner than we had in- 

 tended. A sirocco far in the desert at the 

 beginning of June is something to be re- 

 membered. The heat is terrible, and 

 forces a person to drink almost continu- 

 ously. We were 4 days' travel from the 

 next well, but our water holders were new 

 and in good condition, and we managed 

 to get through. 



In spite of the terrible heat, the sirocco, 

 and other unfavorable circumstances, we 

 secured 28 gazelles, 2 antelope and 2 

 Mane sheep. 



North Africa is as easily accessible as 

 are the good hunting grounds of the 

 United States, and is overrun with sports- 

 men, but in the German possessions in 

 Southeast Africa big game is as abundant 

 as Mr. Tiley could desire. With a compe- 

 tent guide and proper introductions he 

 would find the trip delightful, and well 

 worth its cost. I would not hesitate to be 

 one of the party, having had an exceptional 

 experience hunting big game. 



H. C. Engel, Crescent, la. 



IF YOU WOULD LIVE NEXT TO NA- 

 TURE, READ RECREATION. 



AN UPHILL HUNTING COUNTRY. 



In this State the game law is nearly a 

 farce. We have no wardens and the 

 slaughter goes merrily on the year round. 

 The law forbids the sale of any game ex- 

 cept ducks, yet you can get venison at any 

 of the leading hotels, in season and out. 

 This is the home of the hide hunters, and 

 our game hogs have bristles a foot long. 



We have the finest climate in the world, 

 grand scenery, beautiful mountains, fertile 

 valleys, and game, game, game, everywhere. 

 The country is full of rivers and mountain 

 streams, which teem with fish. I have 

 seen the Elwha river so full of silver sal- 

 mon that it was one wriggling mass. 



This is a difficult country to hunt over, 

 and it takes an enthusiastic hunter to en- 

 thuse after one of our mountain hunts. But 

 if you are game you can enjoy every hard 

 climb. But by the time you get a deer and 

 pack it on your back 5 to 10 miles you will 

 surely appreciate venison. No pack horse 

 can go where our deer live. 



I remember the first deer I shot last fall. 

 Five of us had been slowly climbing up 

 the mountains 2 days. The timber had 

 been thick all the way until we came out 

 in a clear place. I was some distance from 

 the others, and did not realize I was several 

 thousand feet above sea level until I came 

 to the opening and found I was above tim- 

 ber line. Soon I saw fresh deer tracks. 

 I concealed myself and waited about 15 

 minutes, looking down on the clouds, when 

 I heard a twig break. There was my buck, 

 walking slowly across the opening. I did 

 not get the buck fever or forget I had a 

 gun. But I did misjudge the distance. I 

 aimed at his heart and pulled. The buck 

 did not hurry away, he just walked out of 

 sight. I ran to where he had stood ; there 

 was blood and lots of it. I sat down and 

 waited 2 hours, then took the trail and 

 found my deer about a half mile away. 

 I will never forget packing that deer out. 

 In some places I let him slide ; in other 

 places we both slid together. But we got 

 to camp just the same, and that venison 

 tasted good. 



I use a 30-30 and think it all right. Also 

 use a '97 model, Winchester repeater; 

 never thought about it being a pot hunter's 

 tool until Mr. Cristadoro mentioned it. I 

 always imagined the man behind the gun 

 could use it decently if he chose. 



Bebee, Port Angelis, Wash. 



A new boy had come to school fresh 

 from the country, and the ready "Sir" and 

 "Miss" of the city child were unknown to 

 him. 



"What's your name?" queried the mas- 

 ter. 



"George Hamilton." 



"Add 'Sir' to that, boy." 



"Sir George Hamilton," came the unex- 

 pected reply. — Opportunity. 



