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Archiver > RHODESIAN-PIONEERS > 2007-11 > 1194525682


From: "Ian & Michelle Carruthers" <>
Subject: [TPS] Elephant seal - Lo Bengula
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 14:41:22 +0200
References: <006301c81fe2$428d3700$281410ac@iano9w9s34m23y><00a501c8202d$5ddfbbe0$1c271fac@KEVIN>


Hi Kevin



That Elephant seal is recorded here by Jack Carruthers - wonder if it's still in Groot Schuur.

rgds

Ian



Jack's notes:

"Three quarters of a mile south was a small spruit that served as our water supply. The column's force pulled up alongside Dawson's store and laagered, the Union Jack was hoisted and our object gained. Having no tent equipment we robbed the remaining hut tops from the big kraal that we utilized for shelter. The camp was peaceful and secure, unlike strife and war - not a Ma'Tebele within miles of the place. The only complaint was the distressing swarms of flies that sickened our force. The place was quite deserted. Dick Bradfield came across two fat native women hanging dead on their hut rafters, evidently too cumbersome to move away. There were hundreds of yelping dogs scavenging about, which we had to destroy. Two large elephant tusks I (Jack) found in the kraal are now in the Port Elizabeth Museum. The next morning early Bain and I went to the Queen's kraal, Lo'Bengula's private reserve on the north bank of the Um'Gusa River. Here we unearthed a pot buried in the ground inside one of the huts, containing all sorts of valuables, beads and so on. Bain found the seal, a silver elephant presented to Lo'Bengula by the Tati Concession Company. Mr Rhodes purchased it from Bain and it ended up in Groot Schuur. Bradfield brought in two peacocks from Matchi-Imslopi, the present Bulawayo. After cooking them and having no salt, we found them too plain, somewhat impossible to eat. The only thing we relished was the dry sliced pumpkin found on the roofs all over the kraal and coffee found at Hope Fountain. We were without sufficient provisions."



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