3yO GAME AND GAME PRESERVATION IN ZULULAND. 



Licence within an area of three miles on either side of the Soni- 

 keli-Hlabisa-Ncngoma. and the Somkeh-Umduna-Ubombo roads. 



Proclamation No. ic. 1915, added to the above the main 

 road Mahlabatini-Nongoma-Ubombo, and the branch road from 

 the Albhekamtetvva over the Msundiizi River to Banganomo. 



Natives were given permission to destroy any of Schedule 

 A game over their grazing areas. 



The worst feature about it was that whilst this legislation 

 was enacting, preparations were already nearly completed for the 

 visit to Zululand of the Veterinary Research Officer, Mr. D. T. 

 Mitchell, who was to work there in connection with the occttr- 

 rence of Nagana. This officer therefore entered the country, 

 and had to prosecute his researches under abnormal conditions, 

 caused by the scattering of the game outside its usual haunts. 



Of all or even an appreciable part of all that occurred when 

 these areas were given over to practically free shooting. I prefer 

 to say very little, as the details were too horrible. That people 

 calling themselves human beings could ever have been so lacking 

 in all humane feeling was indeed a revelation to me. There were 

 but few, very few, brilliant exceptions— men who were sports- 

 men and not butchers, and who scorned to emulate the deeds of 

 the rabble. 



For the rest, well, they laid themselves out to slaughter, 

 and for ever earned the contempt of all true sportsmen. It was 

 indeed a " reign of terror " for the beautiful and defenceless 

 creatures which have been placed upon this earth for man's use, 

 not abuse; for his enjoyment, not for the exercise of his spirit 

 of blood-lust. 



And, after all, the game is not to blame, the blame lies at 

 the door of the causal agent, the tsetse-fly. 



The Proclamations above referred to were revoked with 

 ettect from the 1st May, 1916, under Proclamation 7, 1916, which 

 authorised the destruction of the different species of game sup- 

 ])osed to be responsible for the spread of Nagana in all areas of 

 Zululand. with the exception of Game Reserves and certain 

 Special Shooting Areas which were defnicd in Provincial Notices 

 Nos. 74 and 103, 1916. 



.\t the same time Proclamation No. 8, 1916. declared Nhiun- 

 tain Keedbuck (C fuh'onifiila) to be Royal (lame, as also Klip- 

 s])ringers. 



The definition of the Si)ecial Shooting Areas was based upon 

 that portion of the X'eterinary Research Officer's report which 

 records his conclusions in respect of certain areas, mainlv around 

 the (iame Reserves, where he considers that Nagana is endemic. 



Within these Special Areas game could be shot upon pay- 

 ment of reduced fees, while outside, in the Open Areas. Permits 

 costing £2 each for the o])en season, or £5 for the whole year, 

 were alone required. i'lie Open Areas, it may be remarked, 

 embraced practically the whole of the Zululand Native Reserves, 

 while most of the Crown Lands fell iiUo the Special Areas. 



The objects sought to be attained by the establishment of 



