THE WILD FAUNA OF THE EMPIEE 35 



NOTES ON GAME IN SOUTHEEN EHODESIA. 

 By Val Gielgud, 



The rapid occupation and settlement of Southern Ehodesia, 

 which comprise all the territories of the British South Africa 

 Company south of the Zambesi Eiver, gives a most useful example 

 of the evolution of a civilised State from a condition of primaeval 

 barbarism. A most useful example, because the changes brought 

 about in this country during the last seventeen years are almost 

 v^ithout parallel, for not only has the country been conquered and 

 annexed, but also actually inhabited by white settlers. 



These settlers are scattered throughout the length and breadth 

 of the country, engaged in mining, trading, and farming, while 

 in various localities large towns have sprung into existence. 



From the very commencement of the occupation, and for 

 nearly the whole period of these seventeen years , it has been my lot 

 to be in a position to observe the effect of this civilisation upon the 

 wild game of the country. 



At the time of the occupation of Mashonaland (1890) the game 

 in South Ehodesia was not so numerous as in North- West 

 Ehodesia or the Portuguese East African possessions. 



This was probably due to the fact that the Matabele were in 

 possession of a large number of guns and rifles, a considerable 

 percentage of which were breech-loaders, and also that the Dutch 

 and English had for a long time been in the habit of undertaking 

 yearly hunting expeditions in this country. Game was, however, 

 fairly plentiful, and very good sport could always be obtained if 

 one knew the country. 



Late in the year 1895, or early in 1896, the disease known as 

 rinderpest crossed the Zambesi Eiver, and attacked both the wild 

 game and the cattle of the country. 



This disease on its way to the South was, I believe, responsible 

 for the death of 75 per cent, of the game in Matabeleland. 



The North of Matabeleland, where the game was most 

 plentiful, is in parts very waterless, and its concentration at the 

 drinking places was, I think, probably responsible for the great 

 havoc wrought by this disease. It has appeared to me that in 

 districts or countries where water is plentiful, the damage done 

 by rinderpest was not so great as in the more waterless localities. 

 Since this epidemic of rinderpest the game has, in my opinion, 

 steadily increased, and is each year increasing more rapidly in 

 rat.fo to the greater number of game now present in the country. 

 In fact, the point I wish to press is that disease, and not the 



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