CHAPTER XXVI. 



DESTRUCTION OF CARNIVOROUS ANIMALS. 



Closely connected with the subject of fencing is that 

 of the destruction of carnivorous animals, especially in a 

 country like this which so abounds with every species of 

 them. The lion is only found so far in the interior now 

 that it need not be remarked upon ; and, strange to 

 say, the wild dogs which are so destructive to sheep 

 and goats when running at large, have not yet learnt to 

 destroy our Ostriches, but they may do so any day. The 

 worst of the carnivora to the Ostrich-farmer is, par 

 excellence^ the tiger ; next, the jackal, the wild cat for 

 little chicks, the lynx for larger ones, and the natives' 

 and other people's dogs worse than any of these. 



A thousand years ago the then civilised world was 

 enlightened enough to offer large rewards for the 

 destruction of carnivora, and even sixty years ago we 

 did so at the Cape ; but the ordinance has been allowed 

 to flill in abeyance ; and an enlightened (?), responsible 

 Ministry replied to the author in a letter he addressed to 

 them on the subject, " they did not consider it was a 

 matter which concerned them." So that we must not 



