Through Gasa Land AND iHE LANDofthe PORTUGESEAGGRESSION BY Parser Gillmore (ubiquej '.•:•'•"•--.•' • - ... .; • ,: • .• ; H : Through Gasa Land, AND THE Scene of the Portuguese Aggression. THE JOURNEY OF A HUNTER IN SEARCH OF GOLD AND IVORY. BY PARKER GILL MORE ("ubique"). Author of " Days and Nights by the Desert" " The Great TJiirst Land" " Gun, Rod, and Saddle" &c. &c. &c. ITonboit HARRISON AND SONS, 59, PALL MALL, Booksellers to the Queen and H.R.H. the Prinee of Wales. HARRISON AND SONS, PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY ST. MARTIN'S LANE PREFACE. The claim that Portugal has made to the possession of Gasa Land is preposterous : that it be deemed the owner of Mashoona Land, is ridiculous. My reasons for saying so are that, it has only two ports along the sea-board of the first-mentioned, beyond the limits of which it dare not go ; while for permission to trade at Senna, Tete, and Zumbo, stations on the Zambesi river, it annually paid to the Suzerain of Mashoona Land—the Matabele King—a large subsidy, which, if not forthcoming at the stipulated date, was enforced by an army. Even under such unfavourable circumstances these trading posts might have flourished, but for the Portuguese being incorrigible slave-dealers, not only preying upon the population in their vicinity for compulsory domestic service, but yearly sending thousands and thousands to Brazil, and such other markets as could be found for the unfortunate captives. Even at the present day, slavery exists 1101150 IV PREFACE. in all these out of the way, insignificant trading stations. The bondsmen are generally brought from north of the Zambesi, and entrapped by bodies of armed men, under the command of half-breeds, these expeditions being fitted out and subsidised by Portuguese merchants. The horrors that the un- fortunates have suffered in their journeys down country can neither be imagined nor described. The perpetuation of the accursed institution of slavery is the desire of the Portuguese subjects resident in Austral Africa, and the Boers of the Transvaal ; hence their sympathy with each other. Since our late policy was to conclude a disgraceful peace with those descendants of the Dutch who form the population of the so-called South African Republic, they and the Portuguese have made common cause to oppose British interests in every possible way, and it is an ascertained fact that, but for the counsel and advice of the authorities at Pretoria, we should never have had the insolent pretensions of the Court of Lisbon made in reference to the Mashoona and Mocololo countries. If actual hostilities should occur between us and these allies, many of our late rebellious subjects will be found fighting in the adverse ranks. The culpable partition PREFACE. of Zululand, the destruction of Secocomie's tribe, the restrictions placed upon the Swazie race, combined with the recall and disgrace of the true patriot and able statesman, Sir Bartle Frere, have directly been the cause of the difficulties which we now have to us face ; and I very much fear that the task before will be found far more onerous than at present anticipated, for, blink the matter as we will, disloyalty is rampant all over South Africa, not even excepting the Old Colony. Gold is to be found in great abundance in Manica and other adjoining parts of the Matabele care taken that the working country ; but must be of these valuable mines do not fall into the hands of unprincipled companies, as much misery will be inevitably entailed upon the natives if such should " " occur. Only lately I interviewed the directors of an embryo company, who coolly informed me that, they were about to work mines of the valuable metal in Manica and Mashoona Land, having ob- tained a permit to do so from the Portuguese Government. Doubtless the new South African Company will be able to deal with such pretenders. If not, I should advise that Lubengulo, King of after the Matabeles. be told off to settle with them ; VI PREFACE. he has done so, if I am not much mistaken, they will give little further trouble. It is impossible in this narrative to state the correct names of stations and rivers, for the in- habitants change them with the accession to office of every new chief. The positions of my camps, hunting grounds, and gold-fields are only approximately correct, for I had no instruments to enable me to lay down exactly their latitude and longitude. The reminiscences added at the termination of my journey " Through Gasa Land, and the scene of the Portuguese Aggression " are experiences which I think will give the reader a fair idea of the life of a hunter, and the people that dwell upon the western side of Matabele Land, familiarly designated as the "Hight Veldt." Parker Gillmore (" Ubique "). " Land and Water," 58, Pall Mall, S.W. 4 CONTENT S. Chapter I. PAGES The Start. A South African Coaster ... ... i — Chapter II. Our Zulus. Buffaloes killed. Our Batteries ... 5-10 Chapter III. C.reat Variety of Game. Elephants. A Perplexing Position ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 — 16 Chapter IV. A Dangerous Situation. Crocodiles... ... ... 17 — 20 Chapter V. A Gun set. Snakes. A Forehead Shot. Bad Shooting ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 — 28 Chapter VI. A Mangy Hyaena. A. Free Fight. Ivory Trading ... 29 —33 Chapter VII. The Mantatees. Skilful Spooring. Formidable Bush 34—38 Chapter VIII. Game in Sight. A Grand Old Man. Hunted ... 39 —44 . VIII CONTENTS. Chapter IX. PAGES A I Hsagreeable Experience. A Java Saurian. An Outcry in Camp ... ... ... ... ... 45 —50 Chapter X. Hippopotami. A Precious Drink. Xervousness. Oh! what a Surprise ... ... ... ... 51 — 57 Chapter XL A Bonne Bouche. Cruel Work. An Unexpected Charge. Half-a-pint of Nectar ... ... 58 —63 Chapter XII. An Exciting Xight. A Weird Situation. The Irre- pressible. A Mother's Boy ... ... ... 64— 69 Chapter XIII. A Dark Xight. A Ludicrous Scene. A Great Naturalist. Leopards. A Summary Proceeding 70 — 77 Chapter XIV. Giraffes. A Black Cobra. Gordon Cumming. The Rhinoceros Bird. Ready for the Fray .. ... 78 —85 Chapter XV. My Left Barrel. The Second Dish. Laid by the Heels. Time an Object. A Fine Race. Riding down Giraffe. Who missed ? ... ... 86 — 99 Chapter XVI. Weapons. Proper Charges. Sympathetic Music. A Midnight Visitor ... ... ... ... ... 100 — 105 — CONTENTS. IX Chapter XVII. PAGES The Cyclone. Drowned out. Zulus as Soldiers ... 106— no Chapter XVIII Dillon's Departure. Fishing. A Novel Capture. An Invalid Companion ... ... ... ... in — nS Chapter XIX. A Crafty Old Buffalo. Where to Aim. A Pet Crane. A Formidable Reptile. Sight or Scent 119— 127 Chapter XX. Not Unattractive Harmony. Christianising the Na- tives. The Death Bed. Pursuit of the Man- eater 128—133 Chapter XXI. A Trying Search. Carrion Feeders. Funeral Service. A Truce to Moralising ... ... ... ... 134 T 39 Chapter XXII. Tropical Flora. Sun-birds. Ourebi and Duyker. Weaver-birds. Good Luck ... ... ... 140— 148 Chapter XXIII. A Narrow Escape. Dangerous Attendants. Native Carelessness. Order and Cleanliness ... ... 149— 156 Chapter XXIV. Trip to the Lagoon. Sloane's Rhinoceros. A Rebel- lious Infant ... ... ... ... ... 157 — 162 X CONTENTS. Chapter XXV. PAGES An Enchanting Scene. Large Mushrooms ... ... 163 — 166 Chapter XXVI. An Uncommon Pet. Two Marauders. An Acci- dent. No Surrender ... ... ... ... 167 — 173 Chapter XXVII. An Unwilling Capture. A Spoilt Child. Vultures and their Prey ... ... ... ... ... 174 — 177 Chapter XXVIII. The Soothing Pipe. Lonely. A Black Child ... 178 — 182 Chapter XXIX. A Satanic Yell. A Wonderful Tale. A Sturdy Ox 183—188 Chapter XXX. Once more Afloat. A Strange Bird. Surgeon-birds. Game to the Last... ... ... ... ... 189— 195 Chapter XXXL An Unfortunate Calf. The Lion's Food. Exercising my Patience. Camp Comforts ... ... ... 196 — 201 Chapter XXXII. Floating down Stream. Suckled by a Lioness. Building the Raft... ... ... ... ... 202 — 206 —— CONTENTS. \i Chapter XXXIII. PAGES A Life on the Ocean Wave. An Error in Natural History. A Happy Past... ... ... ... 207 212 Chapter XXXIV. Robbing a Crocodile's Nest. Maternal Affection of Crocodiles. Home, Sweet Home. The Great Mashoona Race. Subsidies to the Matabele King ... 213— 222 Chapter XXXV. Game worthy of a Sportsman's Skill. A Dangerous Mother. Gold! Gold! ... .. ... ... 223 —227 Chapter XXXVI, My Black Baby. A Child's Pluck. The Portuguese as Tenants. Slavery and its Results ... .. 228—234 Chapter XXXVII. A Discovery in Natural History. Preparations for a Start. Dillon's Prowess ... ... ... ... 235 — 239 Chapter XXXVIII. A Rat Hunt. A Fortunate Escape ... ... ... 240 241 Chapter XXXIX. On the Line of March. Peculiarities of the Tetzc Fly. A Land of Promise for Emigration. Treat- ment of the Natives. Native Ingenuity .. 242 — 249 Xll CONTENTS. Chapter XL. PAGES A Grand Country. The Food Supply. Bad Shoot- ing. Gluttony at the Mansion House. Abun- dant Spoor of Game. A Pugnacious Old Cow. A Veteran Soldier. Portuguese Tabooed. An- cient Stone Works. Rejoin Dillon. Living- stone's Description of Tete. Tete and its Environs. Slavery. Coal. Convict Soldiers ... 250— 280 Life on the Hight Veldt and Country West of Matabele Land Hunting Favourites in Austral Africa 291 A Hottentot Patriot 3*9 Female Heroism 329 Belief in Ghosts ... 337 THROUGH GASA LAND, AND The Scene of Portuguese Aggression. CHAPTER I. THE START. My first experience of big game shooting in South Africa I am not likely to forget, although it occurred some years ago, for, let me tell the reader, it was not sport at all, but the most harassing, trying work, without break or cessation ; and it would have, had it continued for any length of time, certainly made Jack a dull boy, or driven him stark, staring mad, and sent him into a premature grave. Shooting and hunting are delightful amusements when you have food in abundance and rest at night, but when you have a scarcity of both and no shelter, and often a most malarious climate, then " I say most emphatically the game is not worth the candle." B 2 THROUGH GASA LAND.