446 ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE GIRAFFE. [June 16, 



them for his own and his people's hunting, and Dutch hunters, with 

 their wasteful methods, are not permitted — a very wise precaution. 



In most of Khama's country stretching north to the Victoria Falls, 

 and west to the Chobe and Mababe Rivers and beyond. Giraffes may 

 yet be found, as well as in Moremi's country, in the region of Lake 

 Ngami. 



Probably the pick of the GirafEe-country now left to South Africa 

 is the desolate and quite waterless forest-region lying south of the 

 Botletli River, and thence extending southward some way into the 

 Kalahari. 



For eight months of the year most of this " veldt " is quite water- 

 less and cannot be hunted, unless water-carts could be taken in ; 

 here very large troops of the Giraffe roam free and undisturbed. 



I have been told by reliable witnesses of 70 or 80 being seen 

 together at one time in quite recent years. I myself, when hunting 

 along the Botletli last year, within a day's ride of the river, met with 

 a troop of nineteen, and smaller troops were also seen. 



Khama's hunters make an annual excursion to this " veldt," and 

 the average bag of each hunting outfit seems to be from 12 to 16 or 

 20 Giraffes. These are shot solely for the marketable value of their 

 skins. All the natives in this part of Africa use the hide of the 

 Giraffe for making their sandals. 



From the Botletli Giraffes are found some way south into the 

 Kalahari. Last year a troop or two must have wandered much 

 farther down than usual, as, when near Honing Vley, in British 

 Bechuanaland, I heard of Bareeki's hunters suddenly flocking into 

 the Central Kalahari, Giraffes having penetrated nearly as far south 

 as the Molopo River ; this, however, is very unusual now-a-days. 

 Westward of Tunobis (Galton's farthest point in 1850) towards 

 Damaraland, Giraffes are not now found, the Namaqua hunters being 

 too active in this region; but in parts of Ovampoland, towards the 

 Okavango River, they are, I am informed, yet found in fair numbers. 

 More to the eastward, on the south bank of the Chobe, they are also 

 numerous. 



Mr. Selous tells us that in parts of the Matabele country the 

 Giraffe was common ten years since, and it is still to be found there, 

 albeit in decreasing numbers. In Mashunaland proper it is scarce, 

 and east of the Gwelo River, according to the same great hunter, it 

 scarcely ever wanders. This is a rather singular fact, one of the 

 often incomprehensible facts of geographical distribution. 



Until a few years back Giraffes were to be found in the low country 

 between the north-east border of the Transvaal and the sea ; Boer 

 hunters have, however, so persecuted the game in this region that 

 very few can now be left. In the Transvaal itself I doubt if a single 

 Giraffe is now to be found, even in the remote north-east district 

 near the Limpopo River. 



So far as one may judge the Camelopard will linger the longest in 

 the inaccessible and waterless forests south of the Botletli River. 

 This animal is very singularly independent of water ; the Bushmen 

 and others will tell you that it does not drink. This I do not believe, 



