THE EXTINCTION OF WILD ANIMALS 221 



America were more speedy in effect than the steady 

 retreat of the South African fauna before the white 

 settlers ; but the total suppression of some of the 

 most interesting species cannot be far off, unless our 

 people follow the example of the United States 

 Government in providing sanctuary for them. Al- 

 ready, it seems, that the great white rhinoceros is 

 beyond recall; at most not more than half-a-dozen 

 individuals survive of the mighty herds that Gordon 

 Gumming encountered in the 'forties. It will be a 

 lasting disgrace if the giraffe is allowed to perish in 

 like manner, but this is imminent at least south of 

 the Zambesi. The mountain zebra may be found 

 now only in the most remote mountain ranges; 

 while the bontebok, the blesbok, and the black wild- 

 beest, all of which Gordon Gumming found in count- 

 less hordes fifty years ago in what is now the 

 Orange Free State, must be reckoned at this day 

 at a few scores each. They have been ruthlessly 

 massacred for their skins. Of the queerly-shaped 

 bontebok, travellers used to stand amazed at the 

 prodigious multitude within a relatively small strip 

 of country ; now, none are left but one small herd, 

 preserved near Cape Agulhas by two Dutch families 

 named Van Breda and Van der Byl, 



