Description
In this entertaining, insightful book, sprinkled with humour, Michael Gammon brings alive the story of his life in colonial Rhodesia, independent Zimbabwe and in South Africa pre and post 1994. The scene is set with an account of an attack on his missionary ancestor’s home by marauding, looting hordes during the Frontier Wars, followed by the story of his mother’s family trek to a remote lion-infested corner of Rhodesia.
The development of a passion for the world of nature becomes evident during his upbringing on a farm in Matabeleland. His account of boarding school life is fascinating and provides ammunition for both punishment factions. His university career was well rewarded (BSc Agric cum laude, PhD, cricket, hockey) and full of interesting anecdotes.
His first job as a Conservation Officer, living among and serving a large community of farmers – with their crop of lovely daughters –and other activities such as fishing trips to the Zambezi and playing international hockey, will interest rural and urban dwellers. Later, as a cattle and veld management specialist, he gives the reader an insight into the world of agricultural research and overseas study tours.
With UDI came the Rhodesian war, in which his experiences ranged from hilarious to frightening. The reader then becomes aware of the agonising decision — whether to leave or stay. Having left for the greener grass of Natal, the later decision to return to an ailing Zimbabwe was against all advice. But it proved that it is possible to live a quality life in a degraded country.
At various stages the writer moves to philosophical mode, discussing the ethics of hunting, the blessings and down side of being a naturalist and his finding that the popular notion of retirement is an illusion.
In the final chapter, he places himself, his contemporaries and earlier generations of Rhodesians in the dock, on charges of racism and harm done to the indigenous inhabitants. He attempts to make an unbiased assessment and calls in the most qualified judge to be the final adjudicator.
