Zambia World Wide

It was 1961 and I had been given the opportunity to visit the Western side of Northern Rhodesia with Phil Hadlow. Towards the end of the trip we crossed over into the Caprivi Strip and stayed a couple of nights with Resident Magistrate Danie Vium in Katima Mulilo Also staying with Danie were some South African airmen who had come to modify a noisy diesel/electric generator. It was the last night and we were all sitting at the long dinner table when Danie's wife suggested that we mght like to try some Katima sauce to add a little spice to our soup.

Danie, with a twinkle in his eye, got up from the table, opened a cupboard, and took down a brown bottle passing it to the airman sitting on his right. Soup was served and the airman poured about a desertspoonful of the sauce into his soup and passed the bottle to the man on his right who also poured a generous splash. So the bottle started down the one side of the table.

Now Phil and I were sitting on the opposite side waiting for the bottle to come back up the table to us when we noticed the first airman, who had by now started his soup, appeared to be feeling the heat. Beads of perspiration had formed on his forehead. His face had become dusky red and his mouth was open like a stranded fish. Oblivious to this the second airman was about to start his soup when a strangled shout of "It's quite hot" stopped all conversation as the embarrassed man jumped up from the table and headed for the toilet.

Further sounds of anguish came as the airman after washing out his mouth tried to relieve himself but only succeeded in putting a trace of the sauce on a sensitive part of his body. Back at the table Danie burst out laughing " I didn't think he was going to take so much. It's made with chillies". "Very hot chillies" his wife added.

The second doctored plate was shared out amongst everyone as Danie explained that it was sufficient to put one or perhaps two drops onto a plate of food for it to have a significant effect. The recipe, which had been given to Danie by his opposite number in Angola, was simple:- Cram as many hot chillies into a bottle as possible and fill with alcohol. The Portuguese administrator had used Lacrima Christi, but Danie used sherry or brandy. The bottle was then left for at least six months before being used.

I took a very small bottle of Katima Sauce back to Kitwe where it lasted for about eighteen months. Attempts since to duplicate the strength of the sauce have not yet been successful.