The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-29

est, and most faithfully enforced. Yet
even with such a preserve, though It be
the best that man could devise, there
| would stiii remain quite a number of
animals that would be unable to derive
any advantage from such an asylum.
| Many African species are purely local
that is, their distribution is restricted
to comparatively small tracts, and they
REQUIRE especial conditions OF climate,
4 food and soil. In the great African con-
tinent every variety of these desiderata
! are TO be found and so each species
thrives In its own particular habitat, and
I the great number OF these habitants ac-
| counts In measure for the great variety
OF the large game OF Africa, especially
among the antelopes
Now. It IL not probable that any tract of
country reserved as a park would contain
SUFFICIENT number Of such habitants no
matter how large It might be. to supply
Gil the species. each one with its own nat
ural surroundings. and those that were
without one, unless they could adapt them
selves TO more or less artificial existence
would as surely succMnb as will their rela-
tives which are left to carry on an increas-
ingiy unequal warfare against modern
weapons and the skill and resourcefulness
OF the up-to-date white hunter Yet a ma
tional park nevertheless promises the sur
eat method Of preserving the most species
Tor the longest time, and II is to be hoped
that one will be established by the British
government while vast tracts of country
can be obtained at practically little cost.
The most easily accessible hunting
grounds in Africa today are in Abyssnia,
Western and Southern Somaliland. the
countries lying along the zAmbesia and
Chobi rivers. the Kilmanjaro country and
Masafland, but in late years the dreaded
ihinderpest has passed through this last
named country, destroying nearly all the
bovines and reducing what was once one
OF the finest game sections In the world to
little more than a desoiate territory. Ma
ehona Ia or was until lately a good game
country, and on the Pungwe river, not far
from the port OF Beira. various kinds Of
game are plentiful, but this is q ter
ribly infected fever district. In the Congo
region there Is much game. and In certain
parts elephants are abundant, and In the
Goboon distrinct Of West Africa the gorilla
and chimpanxee are found. In the vicinity
Of Delagoa bay there IL stll considerable
game, but here also. as In the Gaboon and
many other territories. fever waits for the
unaccIimated. In the interior of the con-
tinent there are still vast tracts irnper-
fectly known or entirely unexplored. where
doubtless much game roarns unmolested,
but those that are forest-covered cannot
be expected to harbor such endless vari-
cities and mighty herds az have the plains
and open tracts in former days. and which
may yet be seen in few remote localities.
Northern Africa contains stu quite large
amount OF big game, but nothing in com
parison to the other parts already named.
but along the headwaters OF the Nile ana
in the vicinity of the great lakes game Is
abundant.
india NAV he regarded as possibly the
r.ut great hnntire Ha,a -e.er Africa Like
the Dark Continent. perhaps even In a
greater degree. India possesses many
rteties OF climate. comprising tne co'u
...fkk liza
c,ers amid mighty mountains the NOT Tot
ssts and plains of the Teral and other SUD
UtmaIayan districts; then the open coun-
trv between the Teral and similar terri
tories and Central India. and lastly tne
plains of the Ganges and deserts OF the
Southwestern Pun1aup.
within the limits of the Himaiaya trac.
Ia Included Kashmir, and here are found
two splendid goats, the tbex and the mark
hoor. with Its strongly accumulated varie-
lie. And IN the vicinity of the Great
Pamir lake lives the finest sheep IN the
world the ovia poll. with horns measuring
is inches at tho base. 81 inches between
tho tips and Is along the curve. inc uia
owls cycloceros, the burial. the tahr. the
serow tNemornaedus buhalinusl. the great
sombeer deer and the barking deer are all
aiso deuixsns OF this tract. while the tiger
and the snow leopard, one OF the most
wary and beautiful OF the felidae, together
with other smaller species. well represent
the cat tribe. In tho spurs and ofshoots
OF the Himalayas the wild elephant Is met
| with during tho hot season. But these 81
| yantic animals are strictly protected. and
| no one Is permitted to Kill one, save In the
| case Of solitary bulls that have become
4 dangerous TO all In their vicinity. Three
| bears may be considered as within this
| tract, tho brown (Ursus isabellinus,, the
| black GU. toraustnsl and the sloth bear
/ (Meursus ursinus). The Terai, lying east
| ~ Assam. Il an extensive. swampy tract.
| dcnscy wooded and fever filled. Here
| hunting can only be carried on by means
| % elephants. The sportsman. snugly en-
sconced tn howdah on the beasts back,
| Is carried over the often treachefous
| ground and shoots his game from his lofty
| perch Here many kinds OF game are
found. elephants tigers. leopards, various
deer and antslopes and smaller animals
| IL IN. however a most unhealthy district,
and one gains his hunting experience and
| the pleasures OF the chase At thu serious
risk of his health. II not indeed Of his life.
from tho poisonous Installations OF the
| swamps steaming In the torF1d heat Rhi-
nocaroS Is found east of this district, and
In Assam that splendid blson the gaur
Cncs gaurusl, Is met With. The gayal tBos
| fronsallsl, another bison. by some sup
posed 20 be a Wild species, Il only met
with Tn captivity. u belng a domes,icatsd
breed o. the Kaur on the southern edge
| Of the game district 20 which the Teral
may 10 said 10 belong, ans also 20 thu
west. tho black buck. thu common Indian
antelope, Is occasionally found In herds.
| In the delta 81 tbs Gaages (SundeSbundsl.
! with Its excessively deadly climate. many
species OF game animals, such a. the rhi-
noeeros. tiger buffalo and various kinds
Of deer Sre found IN large numbers
The Indian buffalo Is a splendid animal
uneasnrias feet 10 inehes at thu shoulder
| Zone specimen Is stated 70 have stood
feet "a tncAesl. and with a wonderful pal,
81 regularly curved haTns that measure
from vs. 20 y Inches, or feet { inchcs
along the cure. and as much as 81 inches
from tip 90 tip, The African baffaio 4
also a magnificent beast. and perhaps the
most thoroughly game" animal within
thu Dark Continent, with its well knit
shaggy ana powerful frame and the mass.
Two bases OF Its horns Joined together A,
tplwark ACROSS its forehead But Il
viii have 10 giVe place 20 It's great Indian
relAtises with his huge bulk and tbs
mighty cimetcr-shape1 horns pro3ertfns
4