The Fort

Had a brief cringe moment this morning, there was a body lying in rags on the pavement outside the site. No cops came and it was gone by dinner time, so must have still been alive…

Went around the fort this afternoon. This acts as the national military museum, and houses all sorts of old cannon, together with trophies from the war of independence and conflicts with South Africa and South African backed forces, so there are a pair of shot up Harvards, with guns still fitted, a hoard of shot up armoured vehicles and artillery. The big guns still have breeches intact, showing details of Blish Locks and falling blocks.

Inside the fort, old guns are scattered everywhere, with termites eating the carriages.

Of great interest was an improvised gun with a rubber band for a main spring, the wooden magazine and the tin trigger guard seem to be more for psychological than physical use.

Half an hour in a scrapyard would produce one. And it looked like the cartridge was home loaded using a recycled bullet and case. I don't know what the propellant was, but from the thickness of the barrel and the breeching arrangement, I don't think it was very hot.

I´ll be posting more pictures from the fort over the next few days.