Nourlangie Safari Camp, Episode 14

Nourlangie Safari Camp, here is 9SLK is anybody listening? (My radio code) The Diaries of Flemming Jensen, 1968-1969

In the previous episode, Flemming struggled to put food on the table, or even under the table for five hungry dogs ...

Flemming Jensen with a termite mound.

Tuesday 4th February 1969

I would go hunting today. First of all the dogs are starving and secondly I would like to show that I could catch a buffalo on my own!

Unfortunately I had to listen to the radio in the morning. I can only receive because I do not have enough power to send and since there was nothing to do before nine o’clock I took off.  It was raining heavily and I was hoping for better weather. I drove as far as I could and then had to continue on foot.

We had probably gone a couple hours (I had Patra with me) and I was about to turn back when I suddenly saw a buffalo. It was quite far away but I took my chance. I hit it but it was only wounded. Then came a frantic hunt with Patra first and I rushed behind.

Before it was finished I had used eight cartridges. Two shots in the lungs, one shot in the stomach, one in the leg and one in the heart and finally a shot in the neck. Two shots were misses. I must admit that it was a big fellow. There is a strange sense of relief and triumph when the animal goes down. It is perhaps the moment the animal comes into you? Exciting is it in any way. You never know whether the animal in desperation would turn around and attack, that has happened so often before.

"There is a strange sense of relief and triumph when the animal goes down."

Unfortunately we were pretty far from the Nissan where the bag and the knife were. Yes we were actually so far away that I was afraid that I have lost my way. However we fortunately found the car. It was left over two miles away, I can say without exaggerating. The question was however whether we would be able to get back and find the buffalo again?

First I attempted to find a new path with the car but I gave up. The rain had made it quite impossible to drive outside the track. We sought now for over three hours and for the second time today I was so exhausted and about to give up when we suddenly found the trail and our buffalo. The rain had otherwise made it impossible to trace it from the start.

While we were on our way a second buffalo nearly frightened the life out of me. If I had my rifle it would have been alright but I have left it at the car. I decided not to bring it when I should carry the meat the long way back. This new buffalo was probably only about ten metres from me. Luckily it was more surprised than me and fled after a few seconds of indecision. I kept Patra. I dared not let him run.

After cutting up the buffalo, I came home through mire and mud with about thirty kilos of meat on my back. It nearly took my breath away. We were home around five pm so it has been a hard day’s hunting in the bush. But it was worth it! The dogs seem to be happy in any case. Looking at their stomachs they could roll after they were fed.

After starting the water pump and filling the refrigerators I made my dinner. Soup with various vegetables, roasted meat with mashed potatoes and for dessert I got vanilla pudding. It was the first day alone in the camp and I think I have been doing well.

Wednesday 5th February

It has rained nearly all day so I have limited my activities to a minimum. This morning the ‘ladies’ came for their rations. They get their rations all year round, twice a week. If it was not arranged in this way they would never get something to eat I think! Or any way, it is only twice a week when they receive their ‘retirement goods!’ They do not know how to ration. They use what they have and do without until they get something again.

I give them flour, sugar, rice, baking powder, tea, tobacco, jam matches and dried milk. On Sundays they also get a couple of beers. This day they for sure always turn up! Besides this they are getting cornflakes, cigarette paper and various other things fortnightly. I gave myself a good time. The Aborigines never seem to be busy I have been told and I have not seen the opposite yet.

In the afternoon I fixed the boats. They must regularly be pulled further up and emptied of water. Afterwards I tried to start the water pump but it would not start. It must have been the water. On the way out to the water pump I heard a crocodile roar nearby. That was also one of the reasons that I’m not messing too much with the pump. The crocodile was maybe hungry and I was not armed.

With Allan still away in Darwin, Flemming continues his hunt for food in the next episode.

Reproduced with permission: Kakadu National Park Cultural Heritage & Biodiversity Management Unit.