Itinerary and specimen list of M . A . Pocock ’ s botanical collecting expedition in Zambia and Angola in 1925

Mary Agard Pocock, bom in Rondebosch in 1886, and best known as an algologist, was also a ‘trailblazer' in the b io­ logical exploration o f Angola. She, and the ethnologist Dorothea Bleek, undertook a scientific expedition which started at Livingstone, Zambia, and ended at Lobito Bay, Angola, during the dry season, from April to October 1925. During the journey Mary Pocock collected ± 1 000 specim ens in the Zambesian region o f endem ism (II). as delineated by W hite (1983) o f which 12 were considered to be species novae. Many o f the specim ens were painted by Mary. Som e original paintings are housed in the Selmar Schonland Herbarium, Grahamstown (GRA). She also kept detailed diaries o f her route past villages and through the different vegetation types. C ollecting locations, with specim en numbers relating to her collection in the Zambesian region, are indicated. An alphabetical list o f all the species collected by Mary Pocock during this exploration has been com piled Biographical notes of Mary (Mamie) Agard Pocock Mary Agard Pocock was born on 31 Decem ber 1886 at Rondebosch (Jacot G uillarm od 1978). After com plet­ ing her secondary education in England, she gained a B.Sc. degree in botany, geology and mathem atics from London University in 1908. She did not confine herself to teaching and academic studies, but becam e an accom plished photographer, developing and printing her own studies, with excellent results, which in those early days was a major feat (Figure 1). She becam e a com petent water colourist, a skill she used to good effect during her expedition to Angola. In 1917, the University of Cape Town granted her a B.Sc. degree ad eundem gradum and in 1919, she returned to Cam bridge, England, to do advanced work under Prof. A.C. Seward, gaining her Honours degree from the London University in 1921. as Cambridge did not admit women to degrees until decades later. Mary then taught science and m athem atics, both in England and at the Cape, for several years. During part o f 1923, she lectured in a temporary capacity at W itwatersrand University. She then acted as a temporary lecturer, and was made acting head o f the Botany Department at Rhodes University College (1924, 1929. 1938. 1942 and 1950’s). Mary Pocock was instrum ental in the establish­ ment o f the Rhodes University Herbarium in 1942, which was incorporated into the Selmar Schonland Herbarium of the A lbany M useum, Graham stown (GRA) in 1993. The Pocock collection, numbering some 28 (KM) specim ens, has been housed in the herbarium o f the Albany M useum since 1967. Many of the Pocock speci­ mens are algae, in particular the genus Volvox, which * Department o f Botany. Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94. 6140 Grahamstown ** Selmar Schonland Herbarium, P O Box 101, 6140 Grahamstown *** National Botanical Institute. Private Bag X 101. 000) Pretoria MS received: 1997-04-24 provided her with a Ph.D. topic (Jacot Guillarm od 1978). M ary Pocock established the tradition o f algology at Rhodes University, which was continued by Prof. Isaac, and thereafter by Prof. Stan Seagrief. The adventurous spirit o f Mary Pocock led her to join Ms Dorothea Bleek in a six m onths’ expedition across Northern Rhodesia (now Zam bia) and Angola to Benguela and finally to Lobito Bay between April and O ctober 1925. During the expedition Miss Bleek gathered inform ation for her work The Bushmen's Dictionary and other publi­ cations, and Mary Pocock collected plants, painted deli­ cate and accurate water colours o f these and the scenery, and took photographs (all photographs in this article were obtained from her collection). She made rough notes on her collections, kept a journal en route record­ ing the villages passed and rivers followed and occasion­ ally traversed. In her notes Dr Pocock also referred briefly to the type of habitat encountered. Botanical expedition to Angola To undertake an expedition to a virtually unknown region is not for the faint-hearted. Particularly, as in 1925 the Angolan region was little explored and the rich b io­ diversity was not well docum ented. The first com pre­ hensive study was published in 1939 by G ossw eiler & M endonca (Huntley & M atos 1994). The route followed by the botanical expedition has been plotted (Figure 2, Table 1) using Mary Pocock’s detailed descriptions of the journey related in her five diaries. In tracing and reconstructing M.A. Pocock’s route, six maps have also been consulted, namely: Esboco da Carta Angola (1:200 000) undated; Carta F itogeografie de Angola (G ossw eiller & M endonca 1939); Rhodesia (1944) 1:2000 000; Benguela (1943) 1:2000 (XX); Benguela (1943) 1:1000 000; Cassam ba (1943) 1:2(XK) (XX). In addition, personal papers of Dr M. A. Pocock were perused. 170 Bothalia 29,1 (1999) In drawing up a comprehensive list of species, use was made of the extensive information recorded by Mary Pocock in three volumes of all the specimens collected during her exploration in Angola (Appendices 1 & 2). The list was checked and corrected, where possible, using floras of tropical Africa (Oliver 1871, 1877; Prain 1917; Thiselton-Dyer 1898, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1906, 1913) floras of East Africa (Milne, Redhead & Polhill 1970) and other references. The names are given as in the original manuscript and have not been altered or updat­ ed. Spelling mistakes of species, however, have been corrected. A list of original paintings by Dr Pocock, painted during the journey and also housed in the Selmar Schonland Herbarium, Grahamstown, is given in Tables 2 & 3. Itinerary and vegetation types traversed Mary Pocock and Dorothea Bleek timed their journey in such a way that they missed the wet season from November to April. Their exploration took place mostly during the cool, dry winter months of May to August. Six different vegetation types in the Zambesian Region of Endemism (II), as set out by White (1983) were traversed in the course of the exploration (Figure 3). The expedition started off by train from Cape Town to the Victoria Falls after which they continued travelling by lorry to Livingstone and Katombora, Zambia. Between Livingstone and Victoria Falls many specimens were collected in the Colophospermum mopane wood­ land and shrubland (Mapping Unit 28) (Figure 4). The mopane tree is often mentioned in Dr Pocock’s diary. From the Westhoven’s Farm in Katombora, they trav­ elled by boat, (dugout canoes) to Kazungula, being poled along by local people hired for this purpose. The many rapids were bypassed on foot, the equipment being car­ ried by porters, of whom up to 17 were engaged at a time. FIGURE I.— Photograph taken by Dr M.A. Pocock during her expedition into Ango­ la. Most o f the early neg­ atives were developed by her on glass. They followed the Zambesi River up to Sioma, where they had to row against the stream. They journeyed through forest transitions and mosaics of dry deciduous forest and secondary grassland (Mapping Unit 22a). Rainfall in this region ranges between 600 to 900 mm per year. The soils are characteristically deep sandy soils which correspond to her description on the specimen sheets and her photo transparencies taken in this area. Many of the plants collected during this part of the journey came from flooded vlei lands and Mary’s many references to the vlei flora already demonstrated her particular interest in water-related plants such as the Utricularia spp. From Sinanga the journey was contin­ ued on foot with porters carrying the food supply, equipment and plant specimens (Figure 5). A special cooking pot for making bread, a zinc bathtub (still stored in the history section of the Albany Museum), bolts of material for bartering and payment of salaries TABLE 1.— List of place names as indicated on Figure 2 and the alternate versions as used by Dr M.A. Pocock Chicolui Chikoluwe Chimbandongo Camundango, Kamundongo Coauchi ou Couti Kutsi Cuanavale Cwanavali Cuando Kwando, Qwando Cuatir Kwatiri Cudidi Kutiti Cuelei Cuvelai, Gwelei Cuembo Kembo , Cuito Quito Cunjambo Kunjamba Cuquema Kuhema Dumba Dumbu Gonie Gonye Luauca Luahuha M. Jambi Njamba Macaiongo Mucaiongo Muece Muye Natolo Nalolo Silva Porto Vila Salva Porto Sinanga Sinanya Sioma Seoma Vila Serpa Pinto Menongue Bothalia 29,1 (1999) 171 FI G UR E 2. — D et ai ls of ro ut e fo llo w ed by Dr M .A . Po co ck an d M iss D. B lee k du rin g th eir ex pe di tio n th ro ug h Za m bi a an d A ng ol a, A pr ilO ct ob er , 19 25 . 172 Bothalia 29,1 (1999) TABLE 2— Dr M .A. P ocock’s original paintings held in the Selmar Schonland Herbarium, Grahamstown

She did not confine herself to teaching and academ ic studies, but becam e an accom plished photographer, developing and printing her own studies, with excellent results, w hich in those early days was a m ajor feat (Figure 1).She becam e a com petent w ater colourist, a skill she used to good effect during her expedition to A ngola.
In 1917, the U niversity of Cape Town granted her a B.Sc. degree a d eundem gradum and in 1919, she returned to C am bridge, E ngland, to do advanced work under Prof. A.C. Sew ard, gaining her H onours degree from the London U niversity in 1921.as Cam bridge did not adm it w om en to degrees until decades later.M ary then taught science and m athem atics, both in England and at the Cape, for several years.During part o f 1923, she lectured in a tem porary capacity at W itw atersrand University.She then acted as a tem porary lecturer, and was m ade acting head o f the Botany D epartm ent at R hodes U niversity C ollege (1924, 1929. 1938. 1942 and 19 5 0 's).M ary Pocock was instrum ental in the establish ment o f the Rhodes U niversity H erbarium in 1942, w hich was incorporated into the Selm ar Schonland H erbarium o f the A lbany M useum , G raham stow n (GRA ) in 1993.The P ocock collection, num bering som e 28 (KM) specim ens, has been housed in the herbarium o f the A lbany M useum since 1967.M any o f the Pocock speci m ens are algae, in particular the genus Volvox, which provided her w ith a Ph.D. topic (Jacot G uillarm od 1978).M ary Pocock established the tradition o f algology at Rhodes U niversity, which was continued by Prof. Isaac, and thereafter by Prof. Stan Seagrief.The adventurous spirit o f M ary Pocock led her to jo in M s D orothea Bleek in a six m o n th s' expedition across N orthern R hodesia (now Zam bia) and A ngola to Benguela and finally to Lobito Bay betw een April and O ctober 1925.D uring the expedition M iss Bleek gathered inform ation for her work The Bushmen's D ictionary and other p u b li cations, and M ary Pocock collected plants, painted d eli cate and accurate w ater colours o f these and the scenery, and took photographs (all photographs in this article were obtained from her collection).She m ade rough notes on her collections, kept a journal en route reco rd ing the villages passed and rivers follow ed and o ccasion ally traversed.In her notes D r Pocock also referred briefly to the type of habitat encountered.

Botanical expedition to Angola
To undertake an expedition to a virtually unknow n region is not for the faint-hearted.Particularly, as in 1925 the A ngolan region was little explored and the rich b io diversity was not well docum ented.The first co m p re hensive study was published in 1939 by G ossw eiler & M endonca (H untley & M atos 1994).
In drawing up a comprehensive list of species, use was made of the extensive information recorded by Mary Pocock in three volumes of all the specimens collected during her exploration in Angola (Appendices 1 & 2).
The list was checked and corrected, where possible, using floras of tropical Africa (Oliver 1871, 1877; Prain 1917; Thiselton-Dyer 1898, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1906, 1913)  They followed the Zambesi River up to Sioma, where they had to row against the stream.They journeyed through forest transitions and mosaics of dry deciduous forest and secondary grassland (Mapping Unit 22a).Rainfall in this region ranges between 600 to 900 mm per year.The soils are characteristically deep sandy soils which correspond to her description on the specimen sheets and her photo transparencies taken in this area.
Many of the plants collected during this part of the journey came from flooded vlei lands and Mary's many references to the vlei flora already demonstrated her particular interest in water-related plants such as the Utricularia spp.From Sinanga the journey was contin ued on foot with porters carrying the food supply, equipment and plant specimens (Figure 5).A special cooking pot for making bread, a zinc bathtub (still stored in the history section of the Albany Museum), bolts of material for bartering and payment of salaries Ottelia lancifolia Rich.w ere also part o f the load.O ccasionally the tw o w om en w ould ride in a 'm a ch ila', a ham m ock slung on a long pole, usually roofed and carried by a team o f specially selected and experienced bearers.On m any occasions they preferred to w alk; M ary P ocock to collect plant specim ens on the w ay and D orothea Bleek to m ake co n tact w ith and study the very shy B ushm en they en co u n tered along the route.

Eugenia owariensis
The pitching o f cam p was left to those porters who usually arrived at a predeterm ined destination first, as those porters carrying the heavy canvas tents, anxious to get rid o f their bulky load, often overtook the collecting botanist and M iss Bleek.A rrangem ents for food prepara tion and other hom e com forts o f the expedition were m ainly left to the guide, and consisted o f a m onotonous diet o f lum py m ealie meal (m aize m eal) porridge, much to the distress o f a fellow m ale traveller, who accom pa nied the tw o ladies for a short distance.P rom inent species, as described in W hite (1983), w ere collected e.g.Croton gratissimus (list no.12)-a subdom inant tree and Diospyros batocana.From Siom a to Luw a, edaphic grassland m osaics (M apping U nit 64) w ere traversed.The dam bo (shallow depressions) grass lands encountered there are seasonally w aterlogged and unstable and form a constantly changing m osaic o f d if ferent edaphic grassland, interm ingled with perm anent sw am p vegetation.The soil is norm ally acid.R epresen tative species collected here w ere m em bers o f the C yperaceae, such as Pycreus sp., Fuirena glome rata, Lipocarpha argentea and Cyperus sp.
On the L uw a Plain (M apping Unit 60) they travelled through edaphic and secondary grassland on Kalahari sand.T hese regions are often subjected to fires which M ary P ocock m entions in her diary.Up to Kutsi, a short span took them again through transitional forest after w hich they continued to journey on higher ground through bushland and thicket m osaic o f Brachystegia bakeriana and edaphic grassland up to Cuito (M apping U nit 47).R epresentative species collected here were Brachystegia obliqua, Brachystegia sp. and Combretum The journey was broken for a w eek from 15-19 May at N inda (N incha) in order to collect at different loca tions in the area.W hen the trip was continued, several rivers including the Luati, Chicolui and M uece Rivers were crossed (Figure 6).
From 26th M ay to 26th June, the expedition rem ained in the Kutsi (C oauchi/C outi) River area, w here 145 spec imens were collected.From Kutsi, the route generally follow ed a w estw ard to southw ard direction across w ooded heights crossing the C uando and C uem bo Rivers.On reaching a m ission, the expedition rem ained for ap p ro x im ately three and a h a lf w eeks in the C unjam bo and K unsum bia River area.T heir departure was delayed by the lack of porters, but on the 31st July, they were able to continue their journey w hich took them across the Kusezi Plain (altitude approx.4500 feet) into the C um binga River Valley (Figures 7 & 8).
W hen crossing the Longa and L uasinga (Luacinga) Rivers, an altitude o f 5100 feet was reached.Special ref erence was made by M ary Pocock in her diary of the exceptionally tall proteas she encountered (25 feet tall) at C uanavale.Sim ilar large tree proteas were observed to grow on the banks of the Cudidi River (20 feet).Three w eeks were spent collecting in the area o f the m ission station Cuelei m aking day trips to several loca tions.In the beginning of O ctober, the trip was continued to its destination Vila Salva Porto (Silva Porto).
From C uito to Silva Porto, a jo urney lasting seven days, M ary Pocock led her com panion through w ood land, the w etter Z am besian m iom bo w oodland, w hich is dom inated by Brachystegia, Julbernardia and Isoberlinia (M apping Unit 47 & 25).H er collection contained m any exam ples of Brachystegia, Hymenocardia, Ochna, Strychnos and Swartzia species.D uring these seven days, they travelled through open slopes between river and w oodland, at an altitude o f ± 5000 feet.Seventeen rivers were crossed.Mary made a careful note of all the native villages and rivers they

FIGURE
FIGURE I.-Photograph taken by Dr M.A. Pocock during her expedition into Ango la.Most o f the early neg atives were developed by her on glass.

FIGURE 2 .
FIGURE 2.-Details of route followed by Dr M.A. Pocock and Miss D. Bleek during their expedition through Zambia and Angola, April-October, 1925.
FIGURE 4.-Vegetation map (redrawn from White 1983) indicating specimen number and collecting locality.
list o f specim ens collected during the A ngola Expedition.1925 (names as in original M S and not updated) (cont.) N D IX 1.-A lphabetical list o f specim en s collected during the A ngola E xpedition, 1925 (nam es as in original MS and not updated) (cont.)S p ecies name________________________________________ Group______________No._____Date_______________ Locality N D IX 1.A lphabetical list o f specim ens collected during the A ngola Expedition, 1925 (nam es as in original M S and not updated) (cont.) Pavonia hirsuta Guill.ct Perr.Pelargonium aconitophylluin Eckl.<£ Ze\h Pentanisia schw einfurthu Hiern Peperonia pellucida Humb .Bonpl.<£ Kunth 1.-A lphabetical list o f specim en s collected during the A ngola E xpedition.1925 (nam es as in original MS and not updated) list o f specim ens collected during the A ngola E xpedition, 1925 (nam es as in original MS and not updated) Zornia tetraphylla Michx.var.linearis (EMex.)