144 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



of the British, holds sway. I was hunting in that 

 very veldt in 1890 by Khama's permission, and, 

 thanks to his generosity and aid, was provided with 

 the best of hunters and guides. During this expedi- 

 tion my companion and I more than once came upon 

 troops of giraffes in which were young calves, which 

 might certainly have been captured with some care, 

 trouble, and hard work. At that time, unfortunately, 

 we had no milch cows with us; and thus, even if 

 we had captured giraffe calves, we could never have 

 kept them alive without a supply of the necessary 

 milk. Just then, too, we had not the remotest idea 

 of the approaching scarcity of giraffes, or of the 

 extreme monetary value of their capture. We con- 

 tented ourselves, therefore, with shooting a few 

 mature specimens, and procuring a food supply for 

 our servants and the tribesmen amongst whom we 

 were hunting. 



I think it possible that Khama might be induced 

 to take the trouble to send into this desert country, 

 and by help of his Masarwa Bushmen endeavour to 

 procure the young of giraffes. It is a long and 

 fatiguing piece of travel from his capital, however; 

 the terrible *' Thirst-land " has to be crossed and 

 recrossed ; milch cows must be taken ; and, without 

 the controlling head and hand of a European, I 

 greatly doubt, even if the chief lent his assistance, 

 whether such a quest would be a successful one. 



