THE WILD FAUNA OP THE EMPIRE. 



59 



ume. These animals, although confining them- 

 selves generally to the more outlying districts of 

 the Protectorate, occasionally visit localities nearer 

 to the centre of the European population, generally 

 in transit to some favourite feeding ground, and it 

 is no uncommon thing to hear of elephants within 

 easy range of Zomba and Blantyre. Reports are 

 occasionally received from the Collectors of Dis- 

 tricts reporting damage to native food crops by 

 herds of elephants. 



Antelope have undoubtedly increased ; and in 

 various parts of the Protectorate there arc very 

 large herds of eland, which occasionally also do 

 considerable damage by eating native crops. 



Beasts of prey, such as lions and leopards, are 

 numerous ; owing to the character of the country, 

 it is difficult to kill them in any number so as to 

 diminish their natural increase. Game being 

 plentiful, they confine their attentions chiefly to 

 the antelope or to the domestic cattle in European 

 settlements. 



Constant complaints are being made by natives 

 regarding the depredations of hippopotami, which 

 since their stricter preservation, have likewise in- 

 creased. As they enter the native grain gardens 

 along the banks of the rivers by night, they in a 

 very short time ruin a whole crop. It is exceed- 

 ingly difficult, by barriers or otherwise, to prevent 

 the entry of the beasts ; and before the harvest of 

 the grain it is necessary for the native owners to 

 watch their fields throughout the night to prevent 

 loss of their food supply. 



