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Show 1899.] EXPEDITION TO THE GAMBIA. 935 mentioned, several specimens oiScoptelus aterrimus were seen and a skin of a male preserved. On April 4 I took m y two fishermen, m y cook, aud canoe up to a small village in the Kunchow creek called Alimaka, and there had some huts built. At this place again the trammel, the seine, and the cast-net were worked with hope of obtaining numbers of Polypterus. As a rule in the afternoon I went out to shoot, aud found it a fair place for game. During the fortnight thus spent at Alimaka, only six Polypteri were caught. There were caught also in this creek several specimens of Gymnarchus niloticus and some fine specimens of a freshwater Turtle, Cyclanorbis senegalensis. Lions were heard here frequently, and Leopards were seen, but at neither did I get a chance of a shot. On April 20 two English gentlemen and a Frenchman arrived at M'Carthy's Island, on their way to some supposed gold-mines about 300 miles to the east of M'Carthy's Island. I accompanied them a short distance beyond the eastward British frontier to the town of Netebulu; the river is not navigable beyond that point. Netebulu is an important native town, where a powerful chief named Sandian had his castle and harem. Here we stayed several days as the guests of the chief, and then I parted from the gold expedition, and made my way back overland to M'Carthy's Island, staying on the way a week at Koina. About 50 miles above M'Carthy's Island the river-banks become high and precipitous, the country around being composed of high plateaux intercepted by valleys. Frequently, however, the edges of the plateaux retreat from the river-bank a mile or so, surrounding wide plains, where one could be fairly certain of finding game. Along the steep cliffs of the river-bank, vast numbers of Dogfaced Baboons (Cgnocephalus babuin) might be seen wending their way. Sometimes the cliffs extended so far along the river-side that the Antelope were forced to come down to drink at certain places, and here the ground would be covered with their spoor. April and May are the best months for big-game shooting. At Koina, large herds of Tankong (Damaliscus korrigum) were seen almost every day. Several were shot and a complete skin was made, which, however, suffered severely from the attacks of dogs and insects before it reached England. These herds were composed of males, females, and young of every age. The largest males seemed to lead the herd, though fine males mingled with the females and young as they daily made their way back in long procession from the river-banks to the higher lands. Large herds were also seen of Hippotragus equinus, the Roan Antelope, or Dakoio as the natives call it, but this species was not so plentiful as the Tankong in these parts. A herd of Elands (Oreas derbianus) are believed to have been seen in the distance, aud I was presented with a skull taken by Mr. Wainewright from a carcass floating down the river. |
