66 THE SOCIETY FOB THE PRESERVATION OF 



recommendation will be adopted. I may add that, 

 so far as I could judge from personal observation, a 

 very large tract of country, lying between the 

 entrance of the Bahr-el-Gebel and Bahr-el-Zeraf on 

 the north to about Gondokoro on the south, already 

 constitutes a far more effectual sanctuary for game 

 than any which could be treated by law. A large 

 portion of this country is destitute of population, 

 and for the time being at all events, is practically 

 impenetrable to the European sportsman. 



Mr. Butler writes : " I am inclined in future to 

 afford less protection to hippopotami. They are 

 extremely destructive to cultivation, and where 

 cultivation exists they must go. In the Bahr-el- 

 Ghazal they are a danger to small boats, and some- 

 times cause accidents to the rudders and paddle- 

 wheels of steamers. In the swamp regions they are 

 found in enormous numbers, and are in no danger 

 whatever of extermination." 



So far as I could gather from personal inquiry 

 during my recent tour in the Sudan, I should say 

 that Mr. Butler was quite right. I can bear ocular 

 testimony to the fact that hippopotami abound in 

 the White Nile. There is equally little doubt that 

 in places they do much harm. It is quite possible 

 to push too far the preservation of destructive 

 game animals. Colonel Sparkcs, in his report on the 

 Bahr-el-Ghazal province, writes : " I suggest that, 

 west of Lake No, hippopotami be treated as vermin 

 and shot on sight. In the narrow rivers of the 

 Bahr-el-Ghazal they swarm and are a positive pest, 

 damaging the crops near rivers, and constantly 



