A Great Hu

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7068, 14 February 1893, Page 3

A Great Hu

Mr F. CV Selous, hunter and explorer, was a mail •learner Hawarden at Plymouth recently. 1871 spent most of bis time tabeleland, Mashonaland, and regions of tho middle and Upper be*i, as well as the territory to the north of that river. Except during occasional visits to this country, Mr Selous has, in fact, been outside the borders of cifibsa ion for a peri -d of over twenty years. He is perhaps, the one European known by name to thousands of natives in the districts named. With the natives ho has always maintained friendly relations. In all his bunting expeditions ha has only once encountered hostility from them, and that was four years ago, when ■ome wandering tribesmen seeking plunder surprised his camp end killed several of his followers. If is more as a hunter than an explorer that Mr . C elcus has gained bis reputation. How little he has ever cared for personal comfort may be gathered from the remark that he never thought of taking any eart of conveyance, even to the extent of a hammock, for ease by day or rett by night, and would not be encumbered by a tent. For weeks together, year after year, be slept on the' ground, covered only by something in the shape of a blanket. Asked by a representative of tho Daily News if there were no reptiles to disturb repose under such conditions, Mr Selous replied that, though venomous snakes were to be found, bites from them were very rare, and in all his experience ho bad never known anybody, either native or European, killed by a snake-bite in Mashonaland. In fact, be said, “ You run more risk of being killed by an omnibus in London streets than we do by venomous snakes in those African forests."