-* Introduction 



should only be carried out to the degree of keeping 

 them in their proper sphere. 



This lesson that we are learning in Africa applies 

 also at home, where we should learn to value the natural 

 beauties of our home scenery, especially its own in- 

 dividuality. It should be made illegal to carry on the 

 worship of the pheasant (a toothsome and a beautiful 

 bird, but not a true native) at the expense of the lives 

 of owls and stoats and weasels that are true British 

 subjects, and without which our landscapes lose part of 

 their national character. The otter is quite as valuable 

 as the salmon ; the fox is not more worthy of encourage- 

 ment than the wild swan. A nice balance must be struck ; 

 and our clergy must inveigh against the national sin 

 of scattering greasy paper over the loveliest nooks of 

 English scenery. 



We have not yet reached the greasy-paper outrage 

 in the African wilderness ; but, as Herr Schillings points- 

 out, the African fauna is rapidly disappearing before 

 the uncontrolled attacks of man. He is quite right -to 

 lay stress on this important fact, that all the wrong-doing 

 does not rest with the white man. The Negro or the 

 Negroid, armed with the white man's weapons, is carrying 

 on an even more senseless work of devastation. The 

 present writer has witnessed in East Africa troops of 

 uncontrolled Somali adventurers, and Swahilis from the 

 coast, led by Goanese, invading the wilder districts of 

 East Africa, and slaughtering beasts by hundreds and 

 even thousands for their meat, horns, tusks, and, above 

 all, their hides. It is an irony which has entered into 



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