BVBCHELL'S ZEBRA. 59 



the zebra, and I especially suggested that an attempt should be 

 made to obtain zebra-mules by horse or donkey mares. Such 

 mules, I believe, would be found to be excessively hardy, and 

 impervious to the fly and to climatic diseases. 



" When we recollect that the zebra is found all the way from 

 the coast to the far parts of Uganda (I have seen them in Buddu), 

 and that countless thousands roam on the level plains of 

 Masailand, where every possible facility is afforded by the open 

 nature of the ground either for riding them do^vn and lassoing 

 them, or for capturing them by driving them into ki'aals or 

 kheddahs, we shall realise that, when once the possibility of 

 training the zebra as a pack or draught animal is demonstrated, 

 the question for animal transport for East Africa is finally solved. 

 The elephant would be invaluable in many ways, but his utility 

 as an agent for the development of the country cannot be com- 

 pared Avith that of the domesticated zebra. I would even go 

 further, and say that their exj^ort might prove one of the sources 

 of wealth and revenue in the future, for, as everyone knows, the 

 paucity of mules, both for mountain batteries and for transport 

 purposes, has long been one of the gravest difiiculties in our 

 otherwise almost perfect Indian army corps. I would therefore 

 advocate that the zebra should be at once protected, and its 

 slaughter absolutely prohibited. Its capture might be made a 

 State monopoly." 



The ready training of BuvchelFs zebra as a draught 

 animal has been demonstrated by the Honourable Walter 

 Eothschild, who has placed three in the hands of a 

 very careful breaker, and they are now being driven 

 both in single and double harness in the streets of 

 London. 



I have to express my thanks to Capt. Hayes, and the 

 London Stereoscopic Company, for the permission to copy the 

 admirable photograph of Burchell's zebra which illustrates 

 this chapter, and to the Zoological Society for the per- 

 mission to use the two engravings which demonstrate so 



