Claws of Africa

George G Harrap, 1934. 1st Edition. A very good copy in the original red cloth, spine faded, some light scattered foxing to outer leaves and fore-edge else clean and tight. Frontis of the author. 271 Pages. Scarce

Courtney's first book detailing his elephant hunting experiences in the Lorian Swamp, and hunting buffalo, lion, rhino and roan antelope in the vicinities of Lake Mara and Lake Natron in British East Africa. A well written account, there are numerous exciting adventures not least of which when the author and his gun bearer were attacked by a swarm of bees while stalking rhinoceros and sought refuge in a rhino wallow [Czech]. Roger Courtney was a man imbued with a sense of adventure. He climbed the volcanic mountain of God and was nearly overwhelmed with ash; he participated in many native ceremonies; he was made blood brother by a native chief after facing a charging lion with eight young tribesmen; he survived a terrifying experience in a maze of rhino tunnels; he saw an apparently dead man brought back to life by witchcraft; he made an attempt to enter forbidden Abyssinian territory from Kenya, but was rebuffed only by the bullets of slave traders.