MISS BEA BUCK
1927 First Guide Camp at the Victoria Falls ?
This incident took place during the night at Victoria Falls in July, 1927. I think that this was the first Guide Camp ever held at the Falls - most certainly it was the largest.
Guides came from N'dola, Broken Hill, Kapiri Mposhi, Lusaka, Mazabuka and Livingstone - also a Ranger Company of which I was Captain - a small contingent came from Southern Rhodesia.
Lady Stanley - wife of our Governor, and "President" - visited us twice in Camp. The Camp Commandant (name- I cannot remember) came from Broken Hill and the Camp took place in the winter holidays, when it could be quite cool early morning and late evening.
As well as Ranger Captain, I was in charge of the Red Cross Tent.
On the second or third night I was wakened by the C.C. in the middle of the night - she had been bitten on her lower arm by a scorpion.
She was in great pain and the arm was reddish and swelling slightly already. For a few seconds I was nearly paralysed with fright!, then laid her on the bed and suddenly remembered I had heard from somewhere that powdered quinine was the best treatment.
I gave the C. Commandant some aspirin and powdered some quinine tablets (of which I had plenty) and spread the powder over the bite and inflamed area and put her arm in a sling. Within a minute or so the pain was much less acute and in the meantime I put on the kettle over a Primus stove in order to make a hot fomentation and a cup of tea (all this by hurricane lamp only). I applied a Boracic Acid foment and we had tea, after which C.C. felt much better and in no more pain and went to sleep.
In the morning she was feeling well enough to do her duties as C.C. but kept her arm in a sling for another 24 hours.
Apart from minor injuries there were no further incidents, in the most wonderful five - six Camp I have ever been to.
P.S. In those days Northern Rhodesian Guides and Rangers wore khaki uniforms and wide-brimmed navy blue hats - skirts halfway between knee and foot!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
