192 TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS 



steady stream of animals, destined for zoological 

 gardens all over the world. 



Most of the animals went to the various Austra- 

 lian gardens for which I acted as agent. They al- 

 lowed me to make my shipments f. o. b. Singapore, 

 relieving me of the risks of transportation. In 

 return, I gave them first call on all of my best speci- 

 mens. When their needs had been supplied I had 

 my choice between shipping to Hagenbeck's agent 

 at Calcutta, shipping to Europe, and selling to the 

 crews of boats that called at Singapore. The offi- 

 cers and men bought many animals, sharing the 

 cost and eventually sharing the profits if the ani- 

 mals lived to reach Europe. Ariff, by crooked deal- 

 ing and passing off sickly animals, had almost 

 ruined this business, but it revived rapidly when 

 the word spread that I could be depended upon. 

 Ariff and I had many stormy sessions before I 

 convinced him that my way was the better, and he 

 finally came to handle a large part of the boat trade 

 for me, doing the work of soliciting orders and 

 making deliveries on commission. 



I made very few sales directly to America. The 

 trouble and risk of the long voyage were too great, 

 and also there was a twenty-five per cent duty to 

 be paid when the animals were landed. The gamble 

 was large, and, even when the deliveries were 

 safely made, there was little profit. Some of my 

 animals reached America through Hagenbeck, who 

 kept them until they were acclimated and then 



