Til E WILD FAUNA OF TIIM EMPIEE 



67 



around Lako Mweru. The Zambesi-Chobe preserve is an excel- 

 lent district in itself, except that it has the grave defect of being 

 largely in German territory. However amicably such an arrange- 

 ment may work at present, an agreement of this kind must of 

 necessity be liable to alteration ; and it seems highly undesirable 

 to leave this as the only real sanctuary for the numerous superb 

 antelopes which are practically confined to Northern Ehodesia: at 

 all events, they arc now only found in any fair numbers, side by 

 side, in that extensive country. A most suitable area to rope off 

 would be, say, all the country in British territory north of 

 10° Latitude, and between, say, 29° and 31° longitude. Should 

 this be considered excessive, perhaps the country north of 9° lati- 

 tude with tho same above longitude, might bo sufficient, the 

 larger area to apply to elephants and the latter to all game. Tho 

 district here named includes, certainly, buffaloes, though sadly 

 thinned since the rinderpest, puku, lechwe, roan antelope, Lichten- 

 stein harteboest, sable antelope (said to carry the finest of horns 

 in • these parts), and probably elands, possibly a few hoodoo, 

 besides the usual sprinkling of pig and smaller buck. Before the 

 rinderpest in 1893 tho above district probably contained more 

 game of all sorts than any other in Africa — a strong statement, 

 no doubt, but one I make advisedly. Should anyone wish to 

 test it, he will find sufficient corroboration in the remarkable 

 article contributed by Mr. Alfred Sharpe (as he then was) to tin; 

 Greograpldcal Journal, shortly after traversing the country in 1890, 

 on a visit to Msidi's town in tho Garenganze country. This 

 would prove that the district is by nature eminently suited to 

 keeping up a large head of game, and moreover is probably but 

 very thinly populated. A short Ordinance issued by the Chartered 

 Company on behalf of game in these regions would indeed bo 

 welcomed by all lovers of sport and zoology.' 



