“Karamojo Safari” 1949 BELL, W.D.M. (SOLD)

BELL, W.D.M.

Harcourt, Brace and Company

1949

8 1/2″ x 6″

*chipping to head of jacket spine*

Karamojo Safari is the tale of Walter Bell’s epic journey into Karamojo (now Uganda & Kenya). Bell’s safari lasted 14 months, and during that time he shot 180 elephants and brought back 18,762 pounds of ivory. Of these, 31 tusks weighed over 100 pounds each, and the largest pair weighed in at 145 and 148 pounds. His trip netted Bell £6000 profit. (Kirkus Review) Walter Dalrymple Maitland Bell (8 September 1880 – 30 June 1954), known as Karamojo Bell, was a Scottish adventurer, big game hunter in East Africa, soldier, decorated fighter pilot, sailor, writer, and painter. Famous as one of the most successful ivory hunters of his time, Bell was an advocate of accurate shot placement with smaller calibre rifles, over the heavy large-bore rifles his contemporaries used for big African game. He improved his hunting skills by the dissection and study of the skulls of elephants he shot. He perfected a technique of shooting elephants from the extremely difficult position, diagonally behind the target; this shot became known as the Bell Shot. Although chiefly known for his exploits in Africa, Bell also travelled to North America and New Zealand, sailed windjammers, saw service in South Africa during the Boer War, flew in the fledging Royal Flying Corps in East Africa, Greece and France during World War I. He wrote 3 books about his hunting experiences and exploits: ‘The Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter’; ‘Karamojo Safari’; and ‘Bell of South Africa.’