The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-11
GONE THE WAY OF TIE BISON.
The south African Republic no Longer Has
Any big Game to Shoot,

Mr. W. l. Distant. in his book on "A Natu-
ralist in tho Transvaal." gives a vivid idea Of
tho disastrous work wrought by the hunter In
South Africa. He says that fifty years ago in
the country north OF tho Vaal River largo gamo
OF NIL kinds was found perhaps in greater
quantities than in any other part OF the world.
This was especially true OF the greGarious an
telopos OF the plains. which roamed In enor-
nous herds. Mr.. Mephuen. In 1S4S. de-
scribed tho springbok. ono OF the most
beautiful OF tho antelope family. as
migrating in tens Of thousands. covering the
surface of the welt or plains and devouring
every green herb as completely as a locust
swarm. Five or six varieties OF antelopes were
as abundant as the sheep on Scotch hills
They We're almost tame. Lions and leopards
fell on tho antelopes. and the native African
with his assegai. or the Boer with his long
rife hardly went out OF their way to take
abundant toll OF the hords as they passed.
Now this large game OF the Transvaal is
practically extinct. Mr.. Distant has recently
spent twelve months In the Boer republic
studying what is left OF tho zoology OF the
country. He says that. with the exception Of
birds and insects. there Is scarcely any wild
life TO see. Traders came into the country
and began to- offer their goods in exchange
for skin, OF tho buck and antelope. and 50 tn
Beers began the Wholesale slaughter Of tho
f1Dest fauna that ever u land possessed. Then
the katirs wrre armed with guns and went fur
ther inland to pursue the sam" warfare Tho
slaughter has game on until this part OF South
Africa has completely lost what was once its
most distinctive geological features.
1t Is n curious fact that the Beers. having
lost the big game upon which they used to eN-
rrclso their mark smanshlp. are no longer the
mighty hunters they WERE and are forgetting
how to shoot with the unerring aim whic won
for them their independence in tho decisive
battle Of Mainha Hill
The south African Museum at Capetown now
regards rs ono Of its greatest treasures the
head OF a white rhnoceros. Men st i'll live who
have shot this animal. hut not u perfect skin or
skeleton of it is known to exist in any museum.
In the TransyAal tho lion Is almost wholly
confined To- tho dis riot OF Zoutspanberg. a
semi tropical and unhealthfu district, and Is
becoming s.arcer every year. Leopard skins
are sow di !licult to obtain. Mr.. Distant says
| the very heritage OF the country is being modi-
formerly lived upon it's grass and shrubs.
1t is almost impossible to realize" says
Mr. Distant. that this was onco great game
| country, aud TINT living Beers can stil re.
MENTOR the time when not only bucks and
| antelorcs abounded on the now silent and
| lifeless Welt but even girafies, lions. and
| elephants were found. Animal life. ut the
| time i wri Ito IL almost solely represented by
| large numbers Of thu white helied crow"
While the native fauna has largely disap'
| peared. the flora OF the country has been
| greatly enriched by imported species, which
| have now run Wild and become part OF the
| yearly beauties OF the land.