Adventure at Uchi Slimes Dam

From Great North Road

By Philip Pain.

More growing up in Nkana-Kitwe: Uchi Slimes Dam

The photo posted of the Uchi Slimes Dam, taken from around Price Charles School, brings back another incident which I would like to share with you.

My sister and her husband lived at 59 Central Street, which is about the 4th house up from Prince Charles in the direction of the Kafue. Looking at the photo is how I remember the scene looking from my sister,s house (I see those funny reeds which grew on top of the slimes dam have really taken over). If you crossed Central Street, passed under the power lines and moved fifty feet into the bush you were in a world of your own. There were many well worn paths to wander along and one of my favorite paths was one which led to the stream and ponds on the north side of the slimes dam.

In this stream there were the biggest tadpoles in the world. Enormous things one could mistake for barble. Now in those days you used to make a spear gun out of a short length of bamboo with an elastic band bound to one end with that yellow and green blasting wire, the spears were made from the main stalk which carried the leaves of the Congo oak (Those are the huge trees which carried bunches of pear shaped berries at a certain time of year and was ammo for your fly cattie). Into the end of a length of this stalk you would insert a pin, this was to give the spear a point and then taking stripped blasting wire wound a short length behind the pin to give the spear some weight. (these spear guns were great at school to shoot spears into your friends and enemies backsides, I can still feel the sting).

I was allowed to play in the bush and often when visiting my sister with my parents, would go down to the stream and spend the day spear fishing for tadpoles. I was not allowed to cross the stream and go onto the slimes dam itself. This was strictly forbidden and I was threatened with all kinds of horrible things if I was ever caught there (boys being boys, this was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey). I don't believe I was disobedient, just adventurous.

On this particular day, while on my way down to the stream, I bumped into some other kids in the bush and it wasn't long before we were across the stream and climbing up the side of the slimes dam. This was the first time I saw the Grand Canyon, a memory I will never forget. Those of you who have been there will know what I am talking about. The Grand Canyon was formed by a stream which flowed from the West to East through the centre of the slimes dam and had over the years eroded the middle section out to form a Canyon. A majestic sight to see while standing on the top edge and looking down and across.

Quick as a flash we had descended to the bottom of the canyon and started to explore and play. Eventually we came to the mouth of the canyon where there was this massive flat open area formed from the washout caused by the stream and rain. This area was one of the reasons we were not allowed into the area. Apparently there was QUICKSAND in the area and kids had lost their lives there (I don't know it this was just a story to keep us kids away). While writing this I keep getting memory flashes of large white sign posts with a skull & crossbones in black with a large warning in red printed underneath. These were placed around the perimeter of the slimes dam.

While exploring this area we came across a section where the very fine slime had settled out onto the top and had started to dry and crack. This area had the texture of fine clay. Well, it didn't take us long to take all our clothes off and by running full speed dive onto your belly and go sliding across this mud flat. This was great fun and we were really having a ball when all of a sudden I looked up across our patch and there was my Mom standing with all my clothes in her one arm and a big stick in the other hand. I remember the other kids moving like lightning to get as far away from my Mom as possible, never mind their clothes.

I unfortunately had to go to my mom and get my punishment, this started with a wack across my bum with the stick which started me running in the direction of my sisters house and every time I would slow down and ask for my clothes I would get another wack. Eventually we got to the edge of the bush and I thought my Mom would give me back my clothes, but NO! Another wack and this continued right across the open area, across central street (much to my embarrassment), until we got to my sisters house. Imagine this kid covered with white clay looking like a Xhosa youth on his way to his circumcision ceremony, running in front of this white woman, with a stick. One hand covering his privates and the other his backside, to try and ward off the wacks from the stick!

Although I got punished for going onto the slimes dam that day, it didn't stop me from going back many, many times. The only difference was that I was much more careful to make sure no-one saw me and could split on me.

Cheers