The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-11
Africa Converted Into a Vast
Game Preserve.
A CONVENTION OF BIG NATIONS
Seven Great Eurspeas Powers Have sign
mails Which Are Threatened with Extine-
sien-The W bite Rhinoeeros, Gira ne, and
appeared-The Bixxest Of All Antelspes.

seven great European powers signed an
agreement in London the other day,
through their diplomatic representatives,
guaranteeing protection for the wild ami
mails Of Africa, some Of the most valua-
bic Of which are threatened with ex-
tinction. owing TO reckless destruction by
sportsmen and hunters for hides and
ivory. The area thus marked out as a
vast game preserve extends from the
twentieth PARALLEL OF north latitude to
the southern line OF the German posses
sions in the dark continent, and from the
Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and
the Red Sea. Under the terms of the con-
vention the hunting Of giraffes, gorillas,
chimpanzees, mountain Zebras. brindled
gnus, Glands, and the little Lberian hip
popotsmus is prohibited. The young OF
the elephant, rhinoeeros, hippopotamus,
zebra, antelope. and ibex are protected,
and all ei-phants' tusks weighing less
than twenty pounds are 10 be confiscated
Eggs Of the ostrich. as well as those OF
many other birds. come under the pro-
visions of the agreement, but those of the
crocodile and of poisonous snakes and
pythons are to be destroyed
One of the animals protected by the
convention is the white or square-mouth-
ed rhinoceros, which Is the largest OF ex.
listing land mammals, excepting only the
elephant. Apparently this great beast
never was very common. being a local
species, confined originally to those parts
OF South Africa where were to be found
the open grassy tracts necessary to its
existence. II is now on the verge of ex-
tinction, only few individuals remain
ing alive. On the other hand, the black
rhinoceros is still very plentiful in many
parts of the interior of the dark conti-
nent, and its final determination is likely
to be postponed for some centuries.
Giraffe Not Protected.
The giraffe, unless protected, must sue
cumb before very long, though still found
in considerable numbers over a great ex-
tent of country south Of the Zambesi
IL occurs in various other localities, and
many small herds wander over parts of
the Kalahari Desert Like the Gland. IL
is most common where water is Scarcest
and doubtless il is able TO go for a very
long time without drink The meat Of
tie beast is particularly good to eat, and
the natives, while hunting it on this ac-
count, find valuable uses for its Skin.
making water-bottles and other things
out OF it. The hide Is an inch and a half
thick, and a rife bullet will not pierce il
Mess at short range.
This interesting creature is the tallest of
all animals, sometimes attaining a height
of eighteen feet, so that Ii is able to
browse on the topmost branches OF mi
mOSa and acacia trees. 1t is the sole
surviving species representing a distinct
family Of ruminants, and seems 70 be re-
lated TO the deer, the OK, and the camel.
Formerly it existed in Europe and Asia,
where its fossil bones are occasionally
dug up but at the present time its range
is restricted TO the great plains of the in
terror OF South Africa. Though ordinarily
gentle, il viii fight fiercely on occasion,
and its kick has been described as the
second most powerful blow In nature, th.s
first being the stroke of a whales tail.
and the third the tap of a lions paw. The
glraffe is never known to utter sound
under any circumstances, even when
wounded. As a runner it is famous, ana
only good horse can overtake it.
Biggest Of All Anteiopes.
The eland is threatened with extincti,n
largely because OF its great size. 1t is the
biggest Of all the antelopes, being almost
as large as a COW, and is slow and clumsy
compared with most of its congeners. Its
flesh being very good to eat, it has been
much hunted on that account. Already il
is exterminated in Cape Colony, Natal,
the Orange Free State, and the Trans
yaal. In the Kalahari Desert there are
still a good many of these animals. and
occasional herds of them wander out of
that desolate retreat in search Of a Ger
tain kind of bush. the leaves of which
they are very fond of. In the desert a
small wild melon containing a considera-
BILE quantity of water grows plentifuly.
and 1t is supposed that this serves to as
suage the thirst of Glands and giraffes in
the hot and dry season.
The brindle gnu is another large ante
lope, ard is one of the most remarkable
and interesting duadrupeds of South Af-
rlca. From the front it looks somewhat
like a small OK, and from the rear like a
horse. The Hottentots call it baas, meaning
master, on account of its bold and fierce
bearing. 1t has near relative called the
white-tailed gnu, and both species former
ly inhabited in enormous multitudes the
grassy plains north of the Vaal River
After the summer rains each year they
advance in large herds as far as the south
ern branches of the Orange River, and on
reaching that stream the white-tailed gnus
would cross over into Cape Colony, to be
slaughtered in great numbers by hunters.
For some reason unknown, no brindle gnu
ever passed the river.
The brindled gnu is now extremely
scarce in the Transvaal, and practically
extinct in the Orange Free State. IL 5
still met with in Bechuanaland. along the
edges of the Kalahan Desert and in some
other localities. Owing 10 the open char
acter Of the country in which IL lives il is
one of the most difficult beasts to stalk.
II has suffered greatly from the cattle
disease. which, while causing much loss If
dOmesticated beasts, has wiped out i'm
mense numbers of game animals of many
kinds in South Africa. including giraffes
and Glands.
Elephants Not Protected.
The African elephant, though not yet on
the verge of extinction, cannot long es-
cape determination, unless protected in
some way. Within the last few years the
demand for ivory has greatly increased,
and 1t is reckoned that each twelve-month
l00. 600 of the giant pachyderms are slain 10
supply the market with this commodity
Formerly large quantities of tusks, accu-
mulated through centuries. were owned
by native chiefs in the interior, and these
stores were drawn upon through traders
But now this dead ivory has been prae-
tieally used up, and an elephane has 10 be
killed for every pair Of tusks furnished 10
the trade A notion of the significance OF
the number Of elephants mentioned is con-
veyed by the statement that l0o,eco OF the
animals. placed in a continuous line,
would stretch $50 miles. The slave trade
in Africa is prosecuted largely for the
purpose OF getting bearers 10 carry tusks
10 the coast Raiding parties in the en-
ploy OF the traders attack the native
towns and carry of the able-bodied
adults. killing all the children and old
people. Thus IL was that Explorer stan
lev said that every pound Of ivory that
reaches Europe costs the life OF man,
woman, or child, and every twenty tusks
are secured AT She price OF the destruction
OF an entire district. with all It's people,
villages. and plantations.
The African elephant Is a species dis
tlnet from the Asiatic, and II grows a
ENl-