THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT 



canal from the Sundays River of some 36 miles in 

 length, besides a network of subsidiary canals, and 

 the irrigation of an area of some 10,000 morgen in 

 extent. The mere presence of the Elephants in the 

 vicinity of the canal, or their lying down in it accord- 

 ing to their natural habit, would constitute a degree 

 of danger and damage which it is impossible to over- 

 estimate. The scheme involves a cost of at least 

 half a million pounds, and the projected settlement 

 is intended to bring hundreds of new settlers upon 

 the land. 



" When the scheme is completed, and the subse- 

 quent new agricultural development undertaken, the 

 presence of the water and the crops will constitute 

 an additional attraction to the Elephants if then still 

 left to roam at will. Their sudden appearance in 

 unexpected places is a menace to peaceful traffic 

 upon the highways, and to the free movement of 

 farm-hands. By rendering the patrolling of the 

 bush impossible they serve as a cloak for poachers, so 

 that the Bushbuck has disappeared, or nearly so, 

 and the Buffalo, which used to be found there in 

 large numbers, is in danger of extermination. A 

 peculiar hardship is that the adjoining farmers have 

 no means of self-defence whatever against these 

 depredations. The law allows them to destroy 

 Elephants inflagranti delicto (which itself is no simple 

 task except to a professional hunter of big game), 

 but does not permit them to destroy the Elephants 

 when trespassing, or when on their way to commit 



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