THE FALL OF THE ELEPHANT. 219 



been hard at work, and each season sees the precious 

 supply wax smaller. In the Kilimanjaro regions in 

 East Africa, and about Bengweolo and the other 

 great central lakes, elephants are, no doubt, still 

 very abundant ; but each month rifles and hunters 

 penetrate more deeply into the Dark Continent. 

 Probably the Niger territories, and the little-known 

 interior of Western Africa, will hold out longest of 

 all. But when it is remembered that 1,200,000 

 pounds weight of ivory are yearly imported into 

 England, for which supply it has been computed 

 that 50,000 elephants are annually slain ; when 

 it is remembered that for the annual supply of 

 the whole world 100,000 elephants must yearly 

 suffer death ; no sane person can resist the 

 conclusion, that the days of the African elephant 

 are now " but as grass," and that his place will soon 

 " know him no more." 



