The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-12-13
Elephants III Africa.

A novelty In African exploration is
announced for the Egyptian province Of
Bndan. his Is the employment OF
East India elephants, instead Of native
porters 70 carry the baggage, provisions,
goods and camp equipments Of exploF-
ing expeditions II has hitherto been
supposed that Indian elephants conll
nHt live In Africa; 81 all events not
without the luxurious feeding custom
ary In India, aud the care OF Asintic At
tendants. This notion turns ont to be
. mistake. Five elephants, which tho
Khedive Of Egypt received as present
from India some years ago, Fecently
made the journey from Cairo 20 Duff. .
Gt .tiou on the White Nile Ia the region
Of Albert Lake, without much Difficult.
u and Ia spite Of very considerable pri-
vations on some portions Of the Tonte.
Their Indian attendants ie:ame hearth
" sick OF life on the White Nile after
time, aud turned back, leaving the
elephants 10 be cArej for solely by ne.
gro eoldies during the Il ter part Of the
journey. Notwithstanding this change,
and : frequent scarcity Of food, the
animals got on we'll over all sorts uf
county. swimming many lakes and
streams, and even the White Nile itself,
with great case. A. Last accounts they
were employed about Duff in transpor-
tation, and the Khedive rsiaiees that
they are no longer eating OF their heads
at Cairo.
The success Of this experimental
journey mp the valley OF the Nile has
encouraged Col. Gordon, Sir. Samuel
Baker, and otherB acquainted with
Central Africa, 20 believe that Asiatic
elephants can be prolitably substituted
for p0rters on such expeditions - those
Of Livingston. Cameron. and Stanley.
/. .aamnch as 20 obtain End keep = suf
/ heient number OF native poFtern has
long been one Of the principal difficult
ties In the way Of African exploration.
Each elephant would equal large
number Of msn Ia carrying power, and
would not require more than two at
tendants.
Since the proisct has been under dis
cussion In England, Mr.. p. L. Seiater.
an accomplished naturalist connected
with the Zoolosical Socisty Of London,
has not only proclaimed his acquies
cence Ia the opinion thai the elephant
IL the proper beast Of burden 20 be
a . / Ia African travel, but says that the
African elephant can be thus employed
| inst a. veil as his East India brother
| The idea which once prevailed that the
Il African elephant wss fierce aud nm
tamable Is nov knownto have heen in
correct. He is equal 70 the Iadian spe-
cies in 5ocility Intelligence and subiec
ton 70 human control; in proof Of
| which Mr.. .sclatsr refers TO the two large
Afrlcan elephants ia the geological
Gardens at Regents taTk, where they
may be seen almost any pleasant after
aoon IN summer quietly carrying about
great numbers Of delighted children.
/ Like testimony on this subject Is given
By Mr.. Waiter Severn, an artist. who
anva that when be wsa eketching re-
cantIy It the Alexandra Palace he found
the African elephants aud Fhino eroses
there so time as 70 be . positive nui.
aance. There we're about dozen OF
them. and s'I had much difficulty" he
writes. sin preventing these playful
eleaver beasts from riding the contents
OF my pockets and eating my books
When I ha1 70 Hse force 70 bsat OF !
too intrusive elephant, he wonld pro
. trude his enormous ears (the distingu
q inhinR mark Of the African speciesl
, and utter shvlll trumpetings in . mos
ludicFous manner"
From Mr.. Severn's account of th,
, Nubians, under whose care these ami
, mails we're at the Alexandra Palace,
would seem that Nubia ought 70 furnisl
. any number Of compeient elepban
drivers Of the same race. He was mucl
impressed by their kindness 70 ever,
creature-dogs, camels, cattle an
sheep. as well as elepEants--and b.
|, their influence over these various ami
mails. A word sufieed to summo
tue gayest young elephant or rhinoscel
os, or 10 bring the most obstinate came
to the ground.
/ In view Of all these facts. It seem
probable that the employment Of ele
/ phants for African exploration will b
!. attempted before long, and that suit
!. able amin lis, as we'll as compe
j. | tent attendants for them, can be Obtain
. cd in the Dark Continent itself. Nj
, Scltrs Us that Il ph 1nts are sti
|, | abundant on the mainland opposii
!. Zanz bar, which is the best startin
! point for exploration Of the lake regiOI
4 Here any number Of wild animals coul
: be captured il q small band OF elaphaI
I, catchers we're sent over from Indi
I with trained elephants TO aid in I'll
!. work. and the demonstration Of the A
!, rican species ia some such manner
. strongly advocated as benefit to ma
!. Kind. which would result in the pre-
!. ervation Of q noble animal dnome
) otherwise soon to perish off the face
!, the earth.