62 THE ELEPHANT 



At the same time, some success has attended 

 the efforts of the authorities of the Congo 

 Free State in this direction. These, by dint 

 of capturing the animals at an early age, 

 have been successful in rearing and training 

 them in various useful branches of station and 

 district work. There is even understood to be 

 a depot for the reception and education of young 

 elephants on the River Welle, and already a 

 number of them, variously estimated, are stated 

 to be in active employment. In this way, of 

 course, some considerable measure of success 

 may be attained, but as to whether the practice 

 can ever be adopted on a large scale must depend 

 upon the adaptability of the African native as a 

 mahout, and the suitability of the various regions 

 in which the beasts may come to be employed 

 from the point of view of yielding sufficient 

 fodder for their daily needs. 



