THE GREAT THIRST LAND

A new binding on the spine retaining the original. New end papers. Bookplate of a previous owner in front. Two more names in ink dated 1885 and 1896. 466 pages.

Czech (Kenneth) AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF AFRICAN BIG GAME HUNTING BOOKS 1789 -1999 page 106: Gillmore travelled with a partner on a shooting expedition from Cape Town to the west coast of South Africa. After his partner's illness and departure, he went on alone with varying degrees of success. There are hunts after lions, elephants and leopard, with addtitional sport after various antelope species. On his return trip he was robbed and barely made it back to civilization.

Gillmore rode via ox cart from Durban via Pietermaritzburg and Harrismith to Klerksdorp and then north to Zeerust across the Limpopo River into Matabele. He hunted zebra, giraffe, buffalo, eland, elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard and antelope. He crossed the Kalahari heading south to the diamond fields at Kimberly. He discusses the interaction with tribes and Boers he met.

An excellent read of travel, hunting and observations of South Africa in 1875.