THE REGION OF THE GREAT PLAINS. 3 



of the Danube, extends in an almost unbroken surface 

 to the great wall of China, in the far east. So also 

 in the new world, the celebrated prairie region of 

 North America represents this division there, as do 

 the Pampas in the corresponding position of the southern 

 hemisphere in South America. The Algerian Tell and 

 Plateau Region in North Africa, the great plains of the 

 Cape Colony in South Africa, and the vast pasture country 

 in Australia, all lie within what we have ventured to 

 describe as " The Region of The Great Plains. " Here 

 too, some of the most celebrated of the great hunting 

 countries of both the old and especially of the new world 

 were located ; where in former days, still within the memory 

 of many persons now living, heavy game of many kinds 

 was to be found, roaming in what would now seem to be 

 incredible numbers. We need only refer to the works of 

 Captain Cornwallis Harris, Mr. Gordon Cumming, and 

 others, to obtain an idea of the vast numbers and variety 

 of animals that were to be found in that sportsman's 

 paradise, the great game country of South Africa. While 

 a mass of literature too numerous even to mention, has 

 described the enormous herds of buffalo that frequented 

 the prairies of the Far West; from which the modern 

 sportsman can form some idea of the magnificence of 

 the sport which used to be enjoyed in these countries 

 in former days. As for ourselves, we have done our 

 best to endeavour to collect numerous curious details 

 and facts respecting them, which will be found elsewhere 

 in this work. * 



Unfortunately, what with the introduction of breach- 

 loading firearms, and the increased facilities of communi- 



* See the Chapter on "Great Herds of Game" and the section on 

 "Hunting and Shooting on Plains," in Volume iii. 



