A Breath from the Veldt 



15 



be obtained from the former region, where they are still numerous, there is 

 not the least doubt that under such favourable conditions as might readily be 

 secured at Cape Town, they would breed regularly when they had reached 

 maturity, and their progeny could be advantageously sold to foreign zoological 

 societies when they had attained sufficient age and condition to enable them to 

 withstand the discomfort of a sea voyage. 



The same may be said of the buffalo, the sable antelope, the waterbuck, 

 the roan antelope, the greater koodoo, and the black wildebeest. All these 

 fine beasts are doomed to eventful extinction unless something of this kind 

 be done ; the only other alternative being the formation of a national game 





THE LONG-EARED JACKAL 



preserve, on the lines of Yellowstone Park, in Western America. Here is 

 where our American cousin has shown his foresight and good sense. Let us 

 not therefore be behindhand in foreseeing the inevitable destruction of the 

 truly magnificent fauna — a fauna that no other country possesses in such variety 

 and all-round beauty. Let Mr. Cecil Rhodes do a popular thing, which will 

 receive the unanimous support of all lovers of nature, and cause the British 

 South Africa Company to assign a district for the sole preservation of the wild 

 game.-^ This will in no wise interfere with the advance of civilisation, but 

 will retain for South Africa some of the beauties of creation for which she is 

 justly considered so famous. How easily the animals indigenous to the country 

 can be preserved, and their decrease stopped, can be seen here and there, where 



1 Since the above was written nearly two years have elapsed, and many changes have been made, showing 

 great progress in South Africa, and I am glad to see that Mr. Rhodes intends to take up this matter and 

 establish an extensive game park in the neighbourhood of Cape Town, whilst Captain Gibbons is also starting 

 a game farm in Mashonaland. 



