84 THE SOCIETY FOE THE PEESEEVATION OE 



BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA. 



' The game regulations in force differ slightly from those of 

 Uganda and East Africa ; they are not quite so stringent ; but as 

 they apply equally to Europeans and natives, and are rigorously 

 enforced in every part of the Protectorate, the result is that there 

 is little infringement of them. 



' The total number of elephants shot was six, as compared with 

 nine in the previous year— of these one was a female killed in 

 contravention of the regulations ; as, however, I was satisfied that 

 this breach was committed through ignorance and inexperience, 

 the delinquent was let off with a warning. In Central Angoniland 

 there is no doubt that the size of the herds has considerably 

 increased of late ; this is due to elephants from territory beyond 

 the Protectorate borders entering and remaining in Central 

 Angoniland, where they find they are comparatively unmolested. 

 It will, I think, be necessary to keep some check upon the large 

 Angoniland herds, which at this season of the year do a great deal 

 of damage in the native food gardens. The Angoni have no guns, 

 and are practically powerless when a large herd of elephants enters 

 the maize plantations. I have seen a herd in this district 

 numbering over a hundred. 



' With the exception of a few chiefs and headmen, no natives 

 are allowed to kill game without the ordinary licences. Villagers 

 are, however, allowed to shoot any description of game which is 

 destroying their growing crops, there can be little doubt that the 

 increase of game in this country is almost entirely due to the fact 

 that indiscriminate slaughter by natives has 'been altogether 

 stopped. The native of Africa, when uncontrolled, is the great 

 destroyer of elephants and other game. 



'In the Elephant Marsh Eeserve the herds of buffalo are on the 

 increase. These have never been shot at since 1897. They can 

 often be seen on the outskirts of the Chiromo township. 



' As a rule, Zomba is free from depredation by lions. It 

 occasionally happens that there is a visitation; the last was in 

 December 1903, when one lion and two lionesses killed several 

 people, and carried off cattle and goats from the Zomba settlement 

 itself. The lion was eventually shot by Captain Markham, and 

 the lionesses then disappeared. Eotween Zomba and Mlanje, 

 however, lions are very numerous on parts of the road, and diffi- 

 culty is frequently experienced in getting letters carried, unless 

 there are two or three men together ; even then, having to sleep 

 one night on the road, the postmen generally spend it in a tree. 



' From the game returns (see Annexe No. 5) sent in from all 

 districts of the Protectorate, it will be seen that the total number 

 of beasts killed has been 2,288, as compared with 2,052 in the 

 previous year. The largest number of any species shot was 304 

 (reedbuck), the next, being 216 (hartebeeste). 



