The Progress., 1896-07-30

us for constituting portion OF that
country a sanctuary for the remaining
herds Of those anima!s-an opportunity
so favorable in ali respects that it
seems only necessary to state the case
to insure the adoption of this measure,
OF late years SOmaliland has been ira
versed by numerous parties Of sports
men and the herds of elephants which
few years ago inhabited the mountain
range behind Berbera have been driven
out. This took place in the belt of
country. the hunting in which is now
reserved for the use of officers of the
Alden garrison. These herds, or the
remnants Of them, have taken refuge
more than a hundred miles farther to
the west, in the country of the Gada
burst, to the south Of Zeiia. This large
tract has been recently added to the
Alden reserve. which therefore now
again contains elephants. My sugges-
ton is that the shooting of elephants
Of the reserve Great advantages are
granted to the officers of the Alden gar
rison, which | should be the last TO
grudge them. and it Is 4 small cOnCes-
sion to ask them to make In return
that, within certain specified limits,
they should abstain altogether from
killing elephants. do not for mo-
ment believe that these gentlemen, who
are good spOrtsmen. would oppose this
measure. Even if the privilege were
nOminally retained for them it would
not be Of long duration. The expert
ence of the past would be repeated. 1t
is not that the animals are extermi-
mated; the essential fact to be remem-
bered is that a single shot fired at one
member of the herd is enough to make
whole band abandon that part Of the
country. This belt of country is par
ticularly favorable for the constitution
OF such a sanctuary. 1t Is compare
lively near home and therefore likely
to be under constant observation. l
saw tracks of elephants on the fifteenth
day from leaving London. The close
supervision by the assistant residents,
who are able and experienced admins
traitors, stationed on the coast, would
be comparatively easy, owing to the
fact that numerous parties of sports
men traverse the region in question
every year and would, of course, re-
port. They are also kept informed by
native caravans who visit the coast for
purposes Of trade and who, owing to
the wise and just treatment which they
have received, are our fast friends. The
Somalis are unarmed except with
spears and therefore have not the
power, even If they had the will, To
go behind the restriction. They de-
cline to eat the flesh of elephants,
therefore an elephant killed is ton
of meat wasted which is a thing alb
horrent to us all. The region in ques-
ton, which is mountainous, with fairly
abundant forests and river beds bor-
dered with dense jungle, is peculiarly
attractive to elephants. Let me deal
with possible objections. have heard
it urged that the officers at Alden would
make so little use of the right that
there Is no purpose In restricting them.
| do not think they would make this
claim for themselves. On the contrary,
/ have reason to expect the Heartbeat
cooperation from the authorities at
Alden. 1t is obvious that a sanctuary
in which the favored few are allowed
to go on killing elephants is no sane
tuary at ALL 1t has been said that re-
strictiOn for this area would be useless
as the Abyssinians, who have guns
raid it in search Of ivory; but to this
/ reply--first, that such raids should
be prevented, and, secondly, If the ele-
plants were thus harassed they would
find a refuge in the eastern part of the
reserve. which they frequented less
than ten years ago and which Is out Oi
reach of the Abyssinian frontier. A
memorandum embodyjng these con-
siderations has been forwarded to the
India Office. 1t has, / believe, been
favorably entertained by the secretary
of state and forwarded to the govern
ment of Bombay. under whose political
supervision Somaliland lies. My pur-
pose in writing to you is to invite an
expression of opinion from naturalists