00 THE SOCIETY FOE THE PEESEEVATION OF 



they must be cleared out. Curiously enough, in Lake Victoria 

 they seem much less aggressive. It is true that the numbers arc 

 not large, but the great expanse of water makes it easier for 

 them to keep out of the way of traffic. 



In the Kagera River the hippopotamus are extremely dangerous, 

 and it may be said to be a practical impossibility for a boat to go 

 even a short distance on the river without risk of attack. 



The Game Laws, so far as they affect hippopotamus, should 

 therefore aim at keeping thern out of the great navigable water- 

 ways and confining them as much as possible to the secondary 

 streams and swamps. 



After the hippopotamus, rhinoceros come next in size. In 

 Uganda Proper they are nearly, if not quite, extinct. On the 

 east of the Nile and in the Nile Province there are still a good 

 number. North of the Aswa Eiver they are still more common. 

 They seem sufficiently protected by the Game Laws ; natives do 

 not interfere with them, they can look after themselves pretty 

 well ; they do no harm unless accidentally or intentionally 

 approached too close, and there should be little risk of their 

 extinction. A curious fact with reference to the rhinoceros is that 

 south of the Kagera Eiver they exist in extraordinary numbers, 

 literally in places almost in herds ; whereas to the north of the 

 Kagera Eiver not a single one is to be seen, tracked, or heard of. 

 South of the Kagera Eiver, they wander up and down the rocky 

 lulls with steep sides rising 3,000 feet out of the plains, on 

 ground which appears far better suited to klipspringers of 

 monkeys than to pachyderms. 



Eeports are current of the existence of the white rhinoceros 

 in this region, and also on the left bank of the Nile opposite the 

 Nile Province of the Uganda Protectorate. Further evidence of 

 their existence, however, is necessary. 



In the Nile Province of the Uganda Protectorate giraffes 

 are fairly common, especially in the northern part. They are 

 effectively protected by the existing Game Eegulations against 

 Europeans, but are still at the mercy of the natives. Eeally 

 effective protection for these splendid animals is very desirable. 

 They are absolutely harmless in every respect, and are among 

 the most beautiful and interesting animals on the surface of 

 the globe. They are quite defenceless, and, as the natives are 

 very fond of their meat, they form a constant object of pursuit. 



Next to the giraffes in size come elands, and similar considera- 

 tions affect the protection of elands. They, too, are well protected 

 by the Game Laws against Europeans, but, like the giraffe, are still 

 at the mercy of the natives. They are also absolutely harmless, 

 and there is every reason to protect them. 



Apart from natural history and sporting reasons, there is cause 

 to believe that elands may be of great economic value. The meat 

 is equal to the very best beef — in fact, it is far better than any 

 other meat to be procured in East Africa or the Uganda Protec- 

 torate. As each animal supplies about as much as a prize beast 

 at home, and as they breed freely and are very tractable, there 



