The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-07-28
WORKING KONGo ELEPHANTS.
Interesting Exeriments Being Car.
ried on in Africa.

rleu OH III AIrlCa.
In forwarding report by Vice
Consul General Lucien Memminger
on the experiments being made at
Api to domcsticate and train cle-
plants for transport service, Consul
General James a. Smith, Of Bona,
says that the question of transport is
one OF the most difficult with which
the Kongo administration has to deal,
and the report seems of great interest
in showing that the African elephant,
heretofore Of value only for his ivory,
may in future contribute in no small
measure to a solution Of the problem
in regions difficult Of access by other
means. The report reads:
Experiments in the domcsticatioM
and training of elephants in the Kon-
go Free State indicate that they can
be used to advantage FOR portcragc
work in regions where the opening up
of the country is most difficult be-
cause Of lack Of transportation facili-
ties. Contrary to tho general belief
that Central African elephants could
not be tanned and made to perform
the same service as their Asiatic fel-
lows in India, a bulletin issued by the
Kongo Government announces the
complete success Of experiments con-
ducsed at an" "elephant farm" at Api,
in the Uele district in the northern
section Of tHte State.
Practical Results Attained.
Here h shall herd of young ele-
tphants has been kept in captivity For
several years and finally, after mach
effort lin training them, satisfactory
results have been obtained. The di-
rector of the elesihant station, In an
Official report, says these experiments
demonstrate that the African ele-
phant cain live in captivity, asid that
by good treatment they can be in
dnced to perform labor. Already the
oldest members Of the elephant farm
a. Api execute the porterage and
Fraction work Of the stutlca,. They
|earry drivers on their backs and pack
saddles with loads. Some Draw wag-
]'oncttcs and others arc trained to
,slraw the plough.
None Of the animals are more than
= years OLD, and since The Indian Gle
plants are most efficient al the adult
, age, Is years, il is believed even bet
/ ter results may be looked for. Mortal
ity anon. the elephants newly cap
iturcd has been great, and as yet it
has not been possible to attempt to
breed them in captivity, but expcr-
l'3ence is solving the problems of do
mcstication; the deaths are now few,
and fresh recruits arc constantly be-
Ing added. With beginning Thus
made the scope of the work at Api
viii doubtless be enlarged and even
tually, it is expected, elephant carav-
ans will be established Success in
the undertaking means great deal
for The future Of the country. De-
spite railroads and steamboat Zines,
the kongo viii always be a country
of forests and Of savannas intcrscct-
ed with swamps.
Use and Conversation of Elephants.
European stock docs not survive IN
the tropical heat, and native carriers
"an be employed only to a limited
extent. The elephaa: i not af'er;r.!
by the tsr-'se fly; j. IAN for1 uc
steeply embarked and rapid streams,
and, Of still greater Importance can
cross the swamps Land encoun-
tered so frequently in the up
per Kongo anl SO 50 often bar
ircr to men on foot. In establishing
lines of communication to the regions
so difficult Of access and to supple
ment the regular commercial routes
elephants may prove indispensable. !
They should be of even greater value
TO the white man penetrating Gen.