CHAP. iv. ELEPHANT. 221 



many years. It is utterly impossible that it can last 

 much longer, as any one who glances at the statistics 

 of the export of ivory from the east coast must at once 

 see. Slowly, but surely, this most useful animal is being 

 extirpated, merely for the purpose of supplying Europe 

 with ivory ornaments and billiard-balls, and before many 

 years are over the inhabitants of Africa will grieve, when 

 it is too late, at the short-sighted policy which has 

 allowed them, for the purposes of immediate gain, to 

 kill down the only animal capable of becoming a beast 

 of burden through the tsetse-infected districts of that 

 continent ; the only animal that the traveller could place 

 reliance on as enabling him to dispense with the costly 

 and troublesome retinue of natives he is, in default of 

 some such aid, forced to take with him, and which from 

 the ease and comfort it would afford in travelling would 

 enable him, whether in the interests of commerce or 

 science, to pass with comparative immunity through the 

 fever regions. Of course it is out of our power to pro- 

 hibit its destruction by the independent tribes of the 

 interior, but surely something might be done by the 

 imposition of such a duty on ivory as would render the 

 profits on its sale and export so small as to practically 

 stop the trade in it. Difficulties there no doubt are, 

 especially in connexion with the Portuguese settlements 

 and other outlets without our territory, but if the sub- 

 ject were as strongly taken up as its importance deserves, 

 they might be overcome, and the thanks of succeeding 

 generations earned by the preservation of this valuable 

 animal. 



