XXXII 



HUNTING BY THE NATIVES 



OPINIONS by no means agree as to the effect which 

 the hunting by the natives has had on the original 

 wealth of the African fauna. I think that it is relatively 

 harmless as long as it is not done by means of fire-arms 

 and not in the interest of trade. In this opinion I find 

 myself in accord with Count Goetzen, the imperial gov- 

 ernor of German East Africa, and with the former vice- 

 governor, Mr. von Bennigsen. 



The natives have hunted for thousands of years be- 

 fore the European invasion into the " Dark Continent." 

 Before the invaders joined in the hunt there was a 

 wealth of game of all kinds, and not a single species was 

 threatened with extermination. 



The natives follow various methods of hunting ani- 

 mals. They use the bow-and-arrow and the javelin, 

 the latter especially when hunting the elephant. 



Noiselessly the poisoned arrow flies from the bow 

 without warning the prey. It rarely misses its aim. 

 The wounded animal is easily followed and found, for 

 sooner or later the poison will kill it. A small piece of 



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