352 ZEBRA, OR TIGER-HORSE. 



guards his harem jealously. He is not only the lord, but also the protector of 

 his herd. He acts as a sentinel and gives the alarm with a shrill neigh if a 

 beast of prey or a hunter approaches. Then the troop gallops away with a 

 great clatter and in a cloud of dust. The zebra is often also heard to utter 

 a noise like a hoarse bark. 



Lately many attempts have been made in British East Africa to tame the 

 zebra and to make it generally useful. Some claim that it is destined to 

 become a useful "beast of burden" and draft animal ; in fact, to take the place 

 of our horse, which is useless in the African tropics, as it succumbs unfailingly 

 to the climate and the tsetse-fly. And, no doubt, the zebra can be tamed, and 

 may perhaps become domesticated in time, but surely not so soon as enthusiasts 

 would have us believe. This in spite of the fact that a few young animals, 

 some born in captivity, have been broken to drive in fancy carts and carriages. 

 But the moment hard and persistent labor was asked of them, as we dO' of 

 our horses, they lie down and die of "broken hearts." Meanwhile the British 

 government is trying to solve Africa's horse problem by producing a cross- 

 breed of zebra and horse, which is expected to retain the best qualities of 

 both and at the same time be able tO' endure the climate. 



Says a famous African traveler and sportsman : 



My first introduction to the zebra in his wild state was in the hilly 

 country of Eastern Africa. The native hunters of my party wanted some 

 zebra meat, of which they are extremely fond on account of the large 

 amount of yellow fat it contains. 



Saddling our best horses, we made an early start. It was ten o'clock, 

 however, before we came in sight of our quarry. The herd comprised about 

 fifty head and was grazing among a mixed herd of antelope and wild goats. 

 A large antelope had been posted as a sentinel and gave warning of our 

 approach. The shrill whistle of the antelope blended with the peculiar 

 neigh of the zebras, which is a mixture of donkey notes and the subdued 

 whining of a dog. 



They started for the higher ground and we followed. At first they ran 

 in single file, the stallions ahead, but as we urged our horses faster and 

 drew closer they ran more in a bunch. At last one of the natives got a 

 shot at a fine young filly and put a bullet in her body ngar the shoulder. 

 She dropped to her knees, but was up again in a flash, and at once obeyed 

 a rule in force among these animals by separating from the herd and running 

 off at right angles. The natives pursued her, overtook her and shot her 

 down. 



