In Wildest Africa -^ 



cold have been found between the teeth and in the 

 stomach — remnants which botanists have been able to 

 identify. 



By a singular coincidence, the mammoth remains pre- 

 served in the ice have been found just at a time when 

 the craze for slaughtering their African relations has reached 

 its climax, and when by means of arms that deal out death 

 at great, and therefore safe distances, the work of annihila- 

 tion is all too rapidly progressing. The scientific equip- 

 ment of mankind is so' nearly perfect that we are able to 

 make the huge ice-bound mammoths, which have perhaps 

 been reposing in their cold grave for thousands of years, 

 speak for themselves. And it can be proved by means 

 of the so-called " physiological blood-proof" that the 

 frozen blood of the Siberian mammoths shows its kinship 

 with the Indian and African elephant ! 



It is strange to reflect that mankind, having attained 

 to its present condition of enlightenment, should yet have 

 designs upon the last survivors of this African race of 

 giants — and chiefly in the interests of a game ! For the 

 ivory is chiefly required to make billiard balls ! Is it not 

 possible to contrive some substitute in these days when 

 nothing seems beyond the power of science ? 



A. H. Neumann, a well-known English hunter, says 

 that some years ago it was already too late to reap a 

 good ivory harvest in Equatorial Africa or in Mombasa. 

 He had to seek farther afield in the far-lying districts 

 between the Indian Ocean and the Upper Nile, where 

 he obtained about ;^5,ooo worth of ivory during one 

 hunting expedition. 



516 



