The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-07-28
Vs.
WJULY 20
Elephants in Africa.


of East Indian elephants, instead of
native porters, to carry the baggage,
provisions, goods and camp equipage
of exploring expeditions. 1t has
hitherto been supposed that Indian
elephants could not live in Africa; at
all events not without the luxurious
feeding customary in India, and the
care of Asiatic attendants. This
notion turns out to be a mistake.
Five elephants, which the Khedive
of Egypt received as present from
India some years ago, recently made
the journey from Caro- to Duff,
station on the White Nile in the re.
gion of the Albert Lake, without
much difficulty and in spite of. very
considerable privations on some por-
tons of the route. Their Indian
attendants became heartily sick of life
on the White Nile after time. and
turned back, leaving the elephants
to be cared for solely by negro
soldiers during the latter part of the
journey. Notwithstanding this change
and frequent scarcity of good food,
the animals got on we'll over all sorts
OF country, swimming many lakes and
streams, and even the White Nile it.
self, with great ease. At last &C
counts they were employed about
Duff IN transportation. and the Khe-
dive reioices that they are no longer
eating off their heads at Cairo.
The success Of this experimental
Journey up the valley of the Nile has
encouraged Col. Gordon, Sir Sam.
uel Baker, and others acquainted with
Central Africa, to believe that Ash
attic elephants can be profitably SUBJ
stituted for porters on such expedi.
tions as those of Livingston, Cameron,
and Stanley, ipasmuch as to obtain
and keep a sufficient number of ma,
tive porters has long been one of the
principal difficulties in the way of
African exploration. Each elephant
would equal a large number of men
in carrying power, and would not
require more thar two attendants.
Since the project has been under
discussion in England, Mr.. p. L.
Sclater, an accomplished naturalist
connected with the Geological So
ciety of London, has not only pro.
claimed his acquiescence in the Qpin-
ion that the elephant is the proper
beast of burden to be used in Africa
travel, but says that the African ele-
plant can be thus employed just as
we'll as his East Indian brother. The
idea which once prevailed that the
African elephant was fierce and un.
tamable is now known to have been
incorrect. He is equal to the Indian
species in docility, intelligence, and
subsection to human control in proof
of which Mr.. Sclater refers to the
two great African elephants in the
Geological Gardens at Regents Park,
where they may be seen almost any
pleasant afternoon in summer quietly
carrying about great numbers of de-
lighted children. Like testimony
on this subject is given by Mr.. Wal
ter Severn, an artist, who says that
when he was sketching recently at
the Alexandra Palace he found the
African elephants and rhinoceroses
there so tame as to be positive nui-
sance. There were about dozen of
them, and II had much difficulty" he
writes, Sin preventing these playful,
clever beasts from rifing the con-
tents of my pockets and eating my
books When had to use force to
beat off a too intrusive elephant, he
would protrude his enormous ears,
the Distinguishing mark of the Atri-
can species, and utter sbrill trumpet
ings in a most ludicrous manner"
From Mr.. Severn's account of the
Nubians under whose care these ami
mails were at the Alexandra Palace,
it would seem that Nubia ought to
furnish any number OF competent ele-
plant drivers OF the same race. He
was much impressed by their kind.
ness to every creature-dog, camels,
cattle, aud sheep. as we'll as elephants
and by their ifnuence over these
various animals. A word sufficed to
summon the gayest young elephant
or rhinocerOs, or to bring the most
obstinate camel TO the ground.
In view of all these facts, it seems
probable that the employment Of
elephants for African exploration will
be attempted before long, and that
suitable animals, as we'll as compet-
ent attendants tor them, can be OBJ
tanned in the Dark Continent itself
Mr.. Sclater says that elephants are
still abundant on The mainland onno.