DEATH OF A GREAT HUNTER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 245, 26 January 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

DEATH OF A GREAT HUNTER.

Captain Selous could hardly have desired a better end to his adventurous career than death in action. He thought himself, when Fie enlisted for service in East Africa, that he would ! e considered too old for strenuous campaigning, but in spite of his long, rough life in the wilds, he was still active and wiry, and the authorities were glad to liavo tho help of so experienced a hunter in the new country over which tho troops were to light. Selous once hinted that he thought he might die in bed, for bo had had innumerable escapes in the open had risked death in a score of forms, and had even got clear from a mob of murderous natives when death seemed inevitable. When the war broke out, he had virtually given up any idea of further adventures in the wilds, and was content with modest excursions on the borders of civilisation, and natural history and literature had been engaging his attention largely. His home was, theoretically, in England, but his

luan was always in South Africa, whore tlic best years of his life were spent. From his youth up, Scions was seized with a passion l'or wandering adventure. Ho began his career of adventure in South Africa at the early ng" of nineteen. This was in September, 1871. Tie started life with £IOO in Lis pockets, and a constitution that w.'.a worth many hundred pounds. He remained in the hunting-field from 18.1 until After a year in England he returned to his fir 4 love and sp at another five years in the African inf rior. He rettirrif <1 home in l^ u l f< r a brief visit; but thereafter he has practically matte South Aiih a his home. For time years lie was working wiiii t!ie (-hart'red Company m Masho'ialaiid. and hj" was the guide ol the coinpanv's tirst development oxp< dition •nI?; what, is now !!'.iodesia. Ihe first ten wars of his life in Smith A! li.-a ne M'ent ehi' fly in hunting, Hie see n-' ten in exploration and naturalising. lie cent libiited i-x ten«ive ! y to the great l.ritish natuial lii-toly col- |. eli'iiis, mapped hundreds ol Mpnre mil's of new count''y. and shot mere , |e;,hauls, prohaVv. than any other hunter iu Ahica.