3 i2 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



eland, Greater and Lesser Kudu, impala, Waller's 

 gazelle, oryx (Beisa), Grevy's zebra, waterbuck (defassa), 

 and the two northern forms of Grant's gazelle, 

 besides the smaller buck. It is probable that, finally, 

 this Reserve will be one of the last strongholds of the 

 elephant, and a means of ensuring the preservation 

 of Greater Kudu, Oryx [Bezsa) and Grevy's zebra. 



It is to the Southern Game Reserve that most 

 attention is directed. The tract of country set aside 

 here runs parallel to the railway line from Nairobi down 

 to Tsavo, and contains about 10,000 square miles. The 

 land comprised in the area varies considerably, but a 

 very large proportion of it is quite unfit for white settle- 

 ment. With the exception of a small swamp or two and 

 a few waterholes, the only permanent water is that of 

 the Tsavo and Southern Guaso Nyiro rivers, which form 

 the southern and western boundaries, and also the head 

 waters of the Athi. Certain portions might possibly 

 be suitable for sheep, one to ten acres, and a smaller 

 portion might perhaps grow cereals if carefully 

 cultivated on the dry-farming principle ; as a whole, 

 however, it may be said to be agriculturally valueless. 



Travellers on the Uganda Railway are apt to get a 

 somewhat erroneous idea both as to the nature of the 

 land comprised in this Reserve and of the amount of 

 game contained therein. Heading northwards, the 

 line cuts the Athi plains, which it traverses for some 

 thirty miles, and to the west may be seen great 

 stretches of fairish grazing, extending apparently as far 

 as the eye can reach and covered with huge herds of 

 zebra, wildebeeste, antelope, and gazelle. One is apt 

 to say, " If I can see so many thousand head of game 

 in so small a section of this large district, what an 

 incredible amount of game the whole Reserve must 



