THE DECADENCE OF GEE AT GAME 291 



travels, " no less than twenty-two of the white species 

 of rhinoceros, and were compelled in self-defence to 

 slaughter four." Burchell's zebras and quaggas, 

 brindled and white-tailed gnus, were found "in 

 immense herds," elands and hartebeest in " vast 

 herds;" springbok in " countless herds ; " blesbok 

 in "immense herds." Other examples were almost 

 equally abundant. 



Harris's books quickly attracted the notice of many 

 English sportsmen. Oswell, Yardon, Murray, and 

 Gordon Gumming, four of the greatest hunters of 

 the middle of the century, all fascinated by his 

 glowing descriptions, found their way to these happy 

 hunting-grounds in the early forties, and the exter- 

 mination of great game began in earnest. Traders 

 were meanwhile pushing up-country, and the sale of 

 firearms to natives — which has since proved one of 

 the most fruitful sources of destruction — set in. 

 From the time of Harris's memorable expedition, 

 the downfall of the game of the far interior has 

 proceeded with dreadful rapidity. 



Meanwhile the emigrant Boers, discontented with 

 British rule, had quitted Cape Colony, and were 

 slowly thrusting their way north. In the country 

 now called the Orange Free State, then tenanted 

 only by a few Bushmen and vagrant tribespeople, 

 they found a very paradise of game. Many of them 

 settled there, and began the work of extermination. 



