ITS ORIGIN AND PROSPECTS. 6 



The consideration of this should act as a great 

 stimulus to every young man to keep his eyes open for 

 other mines of wealth, which no doubt lie around us in 

 this, as yet, little-developed land. But any one who 

 will discover these must rely entirely on himself, and 

 must not be deterred by any amount of sneers and 

 ridicule. Many a time at first we were told we were 

 mad, and should leave it alone ; that it would never 

 pay ; that the birds were naturally of so timid a nature, 

 they would never breed in confinement ; or if they ever 

 did make a nest, that it was their nature to break all 

 their eggs if any one went near it ; and that even if all 

 other difficulties were overcome, the feather grown in a 

 tame state would not curl, and would be of little value. 

 This latter was extensively believed, even by the 

 dealers in feathers, and for some years a great pre- 

 judice was maintained against tame feathers. As this 

 has quite died out now, it is hard to account for it, 

 and only shows how strong prejudice is against any- 

 thing new. 



The French have made great efforts to introduce 

 Ostrich- farming in Algiers^ but it does not seem to hava 

 taken much root there. Birds are also, to a small 

 degree, kept in a tame state in Egypt. But South 

 Africa has become, and is likely to remain, the great 

 seat of the industry. 

 b2 



