168 IN THE GRIP OF THE NYIKA CHAP. 



a load on his head, every available native is required 

 for more remunerative work on the land. 



I know it will be said that the zebra is a useless 

 and vicious brute, and that it is impossible to train 

 him or make him into a useful beast of burden; but 

 I challenge this prejudiced view, as I am convinced 

 that, given a fair trial, the zebra will yet prove one 

 of the most useful of East African animals. In the 

 first place, it is immune from the deadly tsetse-fly, 

 and, being indigenous to the country, is not affected 

 by the climate, and can stand the extremes of heat 

 and cold without any harmful result. It also knows 

 what food to pick up for itself in the wilds, and 

 unlike the mule, will not eat poisonous grasses and 

 herbs, its instinct teaching it what to avoid. It is 

 capable of carrying as heavy a load as a mule, and 

 is as sure-footed, being able to gallop over the 

 roughest ground, while its feet and legs are perfect 

 for jungle work. The zebra is also more alive to the 

 necessity of protecting itself from wild beasts, and 

 seems to know at once when danger is at hand. 

 Finally, it can cover greater distances without water 

 than any pack animal except the camel. 



It is true that certain half-hearted experiments 

 have been made to domesticate these animals, and 

 because these spasmodic efforts have failed, the 

 zebras have been anathematized by those who know 

 very little about them; they are, alas, now looked 



