258 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



so hot on this question, it may be presumed that the 

 evidence is by no means conclusive. In this Protec- 

 torate, however, the balance of probability seems to be 

 in favour of innocence, and for the following reasons : 

 there are very many districts in which there are 

 tsetse-fly and no buffalo, and others again in which 

 there are buffalo and no tsetse-fly. This argument 

 seems to me a pretty strong one, though I must confess 

 to being prejudiced. There is a commission now 

 sitting to weigh the evidence on both sides. All good 

 sportsmen must hope that the verdict will be favourable 

 to the buffalo, since not only is he a glorious animal, 

 but he seems one which may exist in the great forests 

 and swamps even under the closest of white settlement. 

 The Leopard and possibly the Cheetah are capable 

 of providing sport to the settler, and both of them form 

 highly prized trophies. The leopard, unfortunately, 

 can only be classed as a most mischievous vermin. Not 

 strong enough to tackle cattle, he is a scourge to both 

 sheep and ostriches, and no means are too unsporting 

 to banish him from their vicinity. Probably poison is 

 the most effective way, but a box trap is generally 

 successful, and has the additional advantage that the 

 skin is thereby preserved. In his wild state a leopard's 

 staple food is formed by duiker, small buck and guinea- 

 fowl, and where these exist in large numbers one may 

 be pretty sure of his presence. Larger specimens are 

 very partial to impala, and will even pull down harte- 

 beeste. They are extremely powerful and will carry 

 off a ram impala or bushbuck of near 200 lb. a great 

 distance, and occasionally right up a tree. Even 

 greater caution should be used in following a wounded 

 leopard than a lion, since they are so much quicker in 

 attack, and are also capable of leaping down on the 



