The meteoric stone seen to fall in the Mangwendi native reserve, Southern Rhodesia, on March 7, 1934

Abstract

This is the first meteorite to be recorded from either Southern or Northern Rhodesia. It fell at about 12.45 p.m. on March 7, 1934, on the right bank of the Shawanoya river in the Mangwendi native reserve, about forty miles east of Salisbury. The latitude and longitude of the spot are 17° 39ʹ S., 31° 36ʹ E.The recovery of the meteorite was made through the efforts of the Rev. F. J. Gits, S.J., who is in charge of St. Paul's Mission. Three loud detonations were heard from a direction north-east of the Mission Station followed by a loud rushing sound. Father Gits, who was out in the open at the time, involuntarily ducked his head. His inquiries failed at first to elucidate the cause of the explosions, which were also heard at Arcturus, Macheke, and Mtoko, that is, over a radius of at least fifty miles.