Chapter XXIII 



A LESSON FROM THE ELEPHANTS 



The forests of Kenya cover about four thousand square 

 miles. They include extensive areas of bamboo, which 

 only grows in commercial quantities in the Highlands. 

 The forests naturally divide themselves into the High- 

 land areas, which are sub-tropical, and the coast or low- 

 land areas, which are all entirely tropical. There are 

 also large mangrove forests along the tidal creeks of the 

 coast. 



The Highlands of Kenya may not for a long time ex- 

 port timber in bulk owing to the lack of rivers large 

 enough for floating the logs, and the present high cost 

 of freightage over a long railway journey, but manu- 

 factured timber may be economically exported. Indeed, 

 attention should be paid to such varieties as are avail- 

 ble and might be used for special purposes. As the old 

 sources of well-known woods of high commercial value 

 become exhausted, fresh means of supply are sought. In 

 some cases where the original species are being depleted 

 or at present come from uncertain sources, suitable 

 substitutes are often found which serve equally well, 

 provided that they correspond in weight and texture 



218 



