158 SAFARI 



combat. It can make no sound to frighten its enemy 

 or warn its comrades. 



Surely the pervading Wisdom of the Universe 

 sHpped a cog when the wretched giraffe was allowed 

 to wander into the African den of lions among which 

 it leads its guileless life. It cannot fight, run, cry 

 out nor hide well enough to escape its bloodthirsty 

 enemies. 



I think it was Conrad that once said the best way 

 to deal with injustice was to ignore it. This is what 

 the giraffe does. He accepts the injustice of his fate 

 with a dignity and gentleness that is worthy of the 

 best traditions of a gentleman. 



The family life of the giraffe is exemplary. We 

 became so accustomed to the rowdies and grouches of 

 the jungle that it was a distinct pleasure to fall in 

 with giraffes and watch their bland goings and 

 comings among the other animals. Never did they 

 dash about kicking and snapping the way the zebras 

 did ; or snort and quarrel as is common with the rhino 

 amongst his kind. 



From time to time Osa and I came imexpectedly 

 upon a mother giraffe and her gangling baby. The 

 latter, like all its kind, was always constmied with 

 curiosity. The sight of us two-legged animals was 

 something entirely new. That we might represent 

 danger seemed not to occur to it. 



As the little fellow craned his long neck and trotted 



