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Show 130 MR. MACDONALU BARKLEY ON THE [Feb. 6, 5. Notes upon the Antelopes of the Pungue Valley. By MACDONALD BARKLEY.1 [Received January 4, 1894.] On the 27th of July, 1893, accompanied by an English friend and two gentlemen from Cape Colony, I sailed from Beira in a small lighter on a hunting-expedition up the Pungue Eiver, taking with us a few natives as guides, or as rowers in case of the wind failing. At Fontesvilla, a small town some 50 miles up the river, the terminus of the Beira Bailway, then under construction, we increased the number of our Kafirs and proceeded about 18 miles further, passing the native village of Nevisferara on our way, to a point some 6 miles beyond that branch of the river upon which is the village of Mpanda's. There, our boat running aground continually owing to the numberless shallows and sandbanks in the stream, we pitched a permanent camp and sent some of our followers back to Mpanda's to hire native dug-outs and m e n to manage them. Leaving a few boys to look after the boat and those trophies which w e had already secured, we proceeded to the junction of the Llemna and Dingadingue, a point about 82 miles from Beira. Our plan of campaign was to pitch a camp on one bank or the other, and to shoot the country round for several days, and then by means of our canoes to move on another day's journey to fresh ground. To a little beyond the Mpanda's branch the banks of the river are well wooded with thorn-brakes, dwarf palms, fever-trees, and some very fine timber; but the only Antelopes we saw on this part of our journey were Waterbuck, a few BlueWildebeest, and one herd of Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, the two former species being exceedingly plentiful throughout the whole of the country we covered. On the higher reaches of the river the valley broadens out into a level plain, covered with long dry grass at this season of the year, and bounded by hills of some size, densely clothed with fine forest timber, amongst which we were lucky enough to come upon a large herd of Elephants, although these animals are said to be very rare nowadays in this district. The plains are but sparsely sprinkled with shrubs and dwarf palms, and dotted over with huge ant-heaps, and with every here and there vleys. At this time of year the vleys are for the most part dry, but the grass on them remains short and green, and forms pasture for the vast herds of Buffalo, Antelopes, and Zebras which roam over the country. The district is infested by the Tetse fly, making it impossible to use cattle, and the climate is exceedingly unhealthy for Europeans except from June to October, when with moderate care it is possible to keep a clean bill of health. The following are the different species of Antelope of which we succeeded in shooting specimens during this trip. 1 Communicated by the Secretary. |
