Man Magnum May/June 2022

AS A JOURNALIST (in my case, also a photojournalist) I appreciate the magic of the digital world as much as anyone. But I am becoming increasingly concerned about the permanence of digital photographic records. Throughout the era during which photographs were printed on cardboard, all we had to do was pencil a name, a place and a date on the back, and put it in a box or drawer, and it became a permanent record; it would be there for generations – forever. Photographs were pasted into albums and captioned with their details. I have original family photographs going back as early as photography itself – 1860, all captioned. We valued photographic records very highly. And that includes those we took ourselves. Camera film was expensive, and processing required two…

Slave Trade Having just received my January/February issue, I am intrigued by the article on Man Eating Lions by one of the best writers anywhere. Gregor states, “…in 1807 Britain banned the slave trade and their navy started intercepting slave ships crossing the Atlantic.” My question is, what did they do with the human cargo? Did they deliver them to Bermuda, British owned, therefore setting them free? Were they simply confiscated and delivered to any of the other Caribbean Islands and sold as slaves? Or were they returned to Africa or delivered to England? Thanks for always producing such a first class magazine. – Jim Robinson, USA Gregor Woods replies: That’s a very good question. The Royal Navy formed a West Africa Squadron to intercept European slave ships carrying human…

Multi-Sharp 2 in 1 Knife & Scissor Sharpener The new Multi-Sharp 2 in 1 Knife & Scissor Sharpener is a must-have in your home or workshop as it quickly restores a very sharp edge, to the correct angle. You can use it to sharpen large and small right- and left-handed scissors and it is suitable for all smooth-edged knives, cleavers/choppers and mezzalunas. The tungsten carbide sharpening heads are reversible and replacement cutters are available. Designed and manufactured with ease of use in mind, the 2 in 1 Knife & Scissor Sharpener has a firm handle grip and finger guard for user protection. See video at www.multi-sharp.com For more on the Multi-Sharp range, go to the Vermont Sales website at www.vermontsales.co.za and look for Multi-Sharp. Available from all leading suppliers’ country…

I WAS immensely pleased to be sharing a campfire with my old friend David Westerhout of Zimbabwe, a lifelong hunter and once world-champion Practical Pistol shooter. Dave was born and educated in England, but settled in Rhodesia as a young man, where he continued to pursue his passion for hunting and shooting. He always has interesting tales to tell, and is great fun at a fireside. “Still a teetotaller, Dave?” I asked. “Fraid so, old chap” he grinned apologetically. “There’s a kettle on the grid over there,” I pointed. “Sorry about the teabags, but a teapot just makes more katundu to pack.” Faintly flaring his nostrils, he dangled a teabag disdainfully between thumb and forefinger. “Hmmn-yeahss…” was his wry remark. Smiling, I asked, “Mind sitting on my right? It’s my…

THE PASSAGE of the Prohibition Act (1920-1933) in America, which forbade the manufacture, importation or sale of alcoholic beverages, led to the rise of organized criminal gangs who manufactured or smuggled illegal liquor into the country and often fought ‘wars’ over territory. The Great Depression of 1929 saw millions unemployed and widespread disregard for the rule of law and order. A new class of criminal arose, equipped with modern firearms and displaying a willingness to use violence. Murderous criminals such as John Dillinger, “Baby Face” Nelson, “Pretty Boy” Floyd, Ma Baker and Fred Bowerman – and their gangs – spread terror as they robbed banks, stores, express offices, National Guard armouries and gas stations across the Midwest leaving a trail of dead police officers and civilians in their wake. This…

THIS incredibly tough and ruggedly handsome animal epitomizes for me what Africa’s wide-open spaces are all about. It can survive the sweltering heat and the icy nights of the desert, is not dependable on open water and, where not restricted by fences, the gemsbuck wanders freely and bravely. Many preadators, even lion, have found out how deadly an aggressive gemsbuck’s horns can be. Occurring naturally in the drier parts of our country, as well as that of Namibia and Botswana, the hardy gemsbuck is very adaptable and thrives in a variety of habitats. It is also completely at home in the dense northern Namibian bushveld. With the advent of game farming and the introduction of species outside their natural habitat, gemsbuck are now found in all of our provinces. Where…