56 THE SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF 



temporary arrangements have been made, by 

 allowing, under certain well-defined conditions, 

 elephants actually found doing damage to planta- 

 tions to be killed, whereby it is hoped cultivation 

 will be preserved with least loss to the herds. At 

 the same time, a few licences will be issued to the 

 Chiefs, allowing them to shoot two elephants each 

 under the Game Regulations on payment of the 

 prescribed fee. 



As regards game generally, it finds a natural 

 protection in the long grass, which obscures it from 

 view for the greater part of the year in many por- 

 tions of the Protectorate. Except when the grass 

 is burnt it is quite possible to march for many days 

 and see little or no game, though it is well known 

 to be in the neighbourhood. 



I should like to add a word to the protest 

 which I see has been made in another part of 

 Africa to the inclusion of hippopotamus in the list 

 of the partly protected animals. This mischievous 

 beast has more of original sin in its nature than it 

 is generally given credit for, and has but little to 

 show in return. Not content with making nightly 

 raids on all cultivation within its reach alone the 

 shores of our lakes and banks of our rivers, it 

 indulges in wanton attacks on boats and canoes, and 

 is a real source of danger to life at the ferry at 

 Jinja and in the narrow passages of the Nile. 

 Several instances have been reported of canoes being 

 upset and men drowned. I am of opinion that it 

 should be destroyed wherever it is found ; there is 

 not the slighest fear of its extinction, but it should 



