INTRODUCTORY 17 



A part of Africa which has been almost entirely 

 neglected by English hunters is the Gambia hinter- 

 land, where, undoubtedly, a good deal of game is to 

 be found. Here, many years ago, was procured 

 the magnificent Derbian or Senegambian eland 

 (Taurofragus derbianus}, which carries horns con- 

 siderably exceeding in size those from any other 

 region of Africa. A sporting trip to the Gambia 

 would, I believe, well repay the hunter-naturalist. 



Probably as good shooting as can be found in 

 almost any part of Africa is now to be obtained in 

 the Portuguese province of Angola, West Africa 

 in Benguela, Mossamedes, etc. Here the sportsman 

 can obtain fair sport without being perpetually 

 worried by vexatious restrictions. No one wishes 

 to see the game of Africa protected from extinction 

 more ardently than the writer. But beyond all 

 question, it is not the British gunner who shoots 

 nowadays who is the culprit in this respect. As 

 a rule, the average Briton shoots carefully and in 

 a husband-like manner, and is desirous mainly to 

 secure a few good trophies and enough meat for 

 his camp during a short period. The man who is 

 exterminating the game of Africa is the African 

 himself, who, armed with a cheap gun, is dealing 

 destruction daily and hourly, for ever creeping about 

 the bush, and, with endless patience, manoeuvring 

 until he can gain a certain shot. 



[It is very noticeable that the complaint which is 

 made here by Mr. Bryden is precisely the complaint 

 that we hear from very many other of our British 



