The San Francisco call., 1908-08-23
BEASTS OF BURDEN
IN CONGO COUNTRY
Efforts at the D0mesticati0n of
Elephants Is Meeting
With Success

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.-In forward
ing report by Vice Consul General
Lucien Memminger on the experiments
being made at Api to domesticate and
train elephants for transport service,
Consul General James A Smith of
Bona says that the question of trans
port is one of the most difficult with
which the Congo 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 is as fol-
lows:
and training of elephants in the Congo
Free State indicate that they can be
used 10 advantage for porterage work
in the regions where the opening up
of the country is most difficult because
Of lack of transportation facilities.
Contrary 10 the general belief that
central African elephants could not be
tanned and made 10 perform the same
service as their Asiatic fellows in India
a bulletin issued by the Congo govern
ment announces the complete success
OF experiments conducted at an 'ele-
phant farm" at Api. in the Uele dis
trict in the northern section of the
state.
THE ELEPHANT FARM
Here small herd of young elephants
has been kept In captivity for several
years. and, finally, after much effort
IN training them. satisfactory results
have been obtained. The director of
the elephant station, in an official re-
strate that the African elephant can
live in captivity, and that by good
treatment they can be induced 10 per-
form labor. Already the oldest men,
bers OF the elephant farm at Api exc
cute the porterage and traction work
OF the station. They carry drivers on
their backs and pack saddles with loads.
Some draw wagonettes and others are
trained to draw the pIow.
None OF the animals are more than
years old. and since the Indian ele-
plants are most efficient at the adult
age, Is years, IL is believed even bet
ter results may be looked for Mortal
ity among the elephants newly captured
has been great, and as yet il has not
been possible TO attempt to breed them
in captivity, but experience is solving
the problems OF domestication the
deaths are now few and fresh recruits
are constantly being added. With
beginning thus made the scope of the
work at Api will doubtless be enlarged
and eventually. IL Is expected, elephant
caravans viii be established Success
in the undertaking means great deal
Tor the future OF the country Despite
railroads and steamboat lines, the Con-
go will always be a country of forests
and of savannas intersected with
swamps.
USEFUL IN MANY WAYS
European stock does not survive in
the tropical heat. and native carriers
can be employed only to a limited ex-
tent. The elephant is not affected by
the tse-tse fy: it can ford the most
steeply embarked and rapid streams
and, of still greater Importance. can
cross the swamp lands encountered So
frequently in the upper Congo and so
often a barrier TO men on foot In
establishing lines Of communication
to the regions so difacult of access and
10 supplement the regular commercial
routes elephants may prove indfs-
pensable. The should be of even
greater value to the white man pene-
trating central Africa than in the
jungles OF Hindoostan.
Probably in no part of Africa are
elephants found in greater number than
in the basin of the Congo Recoiling
before the advance of civilization
herds which once thickIy occupied all
the humid countries of central Africa
more especially in the region from IT
degrees north latitude southward-are
now thinning or else gathering in re-
gions inaccessible TO hunters They
still range freely IN many parts of
the Congo, though not easily found
near posts long established.
White hunters must obtain at a cost
of $3.50 permit for killing them
as game or for ivory, the number al
lowed to be killed by each hunter is
limited. as well as the time validity of
the permit. Natives must also obtain
permission TO kill them. BY these pro-
visions wholesale slaughter is In
measure checked and the supply of
ivory thus partially preserved. But
for the permanent preservation OF this
source of wealth and of the species the
experiments in GomestIcation at Api
also have their value.
BY closely studying the habits and
characteristics OF central African ele-
plants in the work at the Ami farm,