18 
HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
mained ever since, about 18 months. "Goumba" 
stands about 38 inches high, is of great bulk, 
and as docile as a child. During the fine weather 
she lives outdoors from 9 a.m. until about 6 at 
night, when she returns to her living cage indoors. 
"Goumba" takes tea regularly with us upstairs 
at 4 every afternoon, remaining at liberty until 5 
o'clock. She eats and drinks at table like a well- 
behaved child. At word of command she opens 
her private locker taking out her allowance of 
fruit, either two oranges or a banana,. Her great 
ambition is a cigarette between meals. When at 
liberty in shop, she industriously unlaces the boots 
or shoes of those there. Her pet aversion are 
children. This is not peculiar to "Goumba" alone; 
I find most large Chimpanzees are the same. She 
keeps remarkably healthy. Her one illness was 
an attack of pneumonia, through which she was 
safely nursed by her devoted mistress. " Goumba" 
oftentimes wanders through the house, exploring 
and searching every room for one who is not 
there, but whom we both trust will return shortly. 
May that be so ! 
THE^ADDO BUSH ELEPHANTS. 
The Select Committee appointed by the Cape 
Provincial Council to report on the problem of 
dealing with the elephants of the Addo Bush has 
presented its report to the Council. The upshot 
of the whole matter is that the Committee found 
itself in a great dilemma. The herd is undoubt- 
edly a great menace to life and a danger to 
property. It is the cause of the destruction of 
thousands of pounds worth of property, and being 
in the neighbourhood of the Sundays River Irri- 
gation scheme, constitutes a constant source of 
aniety and danger to the work and workers on the 
settlement. On the other hand there is a strong 
feeling on sentimental* and scientific grounds 
against the destruction of a herd that includes 
the last remaining representatives of the South 
African elephants. 
The question of reducing the number pre- 
sents many difficulties, for apart from estimating 
what would be a safe number to preserve, there 
are the problems of confinement and the water 
supply to be considered. An adequate scheme for 
confinement would cost a very large sum, while 
the supply of water in the reserve is wholly in- 
adequate. It is this absence of water that leads 
to most of the present trouble, because of the 
elephants' love of a bath which send them roam- 
ing' over the country in search of pools. If an 
enclosure were made, provision would have to be 
made for a permanent water supply, and this 
would also involve great expense. Even if des- 
truction were decided on, the greatest care and 
forethought would have to be exercised in the 
manner of doing it. Confinement would be be- 
yound the means of the Council to undertake, 
but the question being regarded as a national 
one, the Union Government might be induced to 
take action or to co-operate in a measure with 
this end in view. Unless this be done, the Com- 
mittee reluctantly fears that the only alternative 
is conplete destruction. The report, which has 
been adopted, concludes with a suggestion for the 
appointment of a special commission to make a 
more detailed investigation and report. 
[I sincerely trust that steps have already 
been taken to preserve this., the last re- 
maining herd of South African, Wild 
Elephants. The destruction would be a 
great calamity. It is to be hoped that 
the special commission will report fav- 
ourably upon their preservation. — Ed.]. 
" NAGANA " AND GAME RESERVES. 
Mr. J. C. Martens, a well-known sportsman 
and hunter, resident near Greytown, informs the 
"Times of Natal" that he does not know whether 
the Umfolosi game reserve is. overstocked or not, 
but the fact is that the game has for some years 
been coming across the White Umfolosi and 
roaming south. The result of this is that the 
native reserve to the south of the river has been 
absolutely cleared of stock by reason of "nagana." 
He goes into the native reserve practically every 
year, and has seen the dead and dying cattle all 
over the place. At one time the kraals had a good 
stock, but now the country has been practically 
swept clear, and the trouble is working steadily 
towards the south, and is now within a short 
distance of the European settlements connected 
with the sugar industry in Northern Zululand. 
This, constitutes a very pressing danger, not 
only to the sugar farmers but to the scheme of 
European settlement immediately to the south 
of the native reserve on the southern bank of the 
White Umfolosi, for the reason that the "nagana" 
infection is already on the new settlement, and, 
in Mr. Martens' opinion, it would be simply suici- 
dal for any white man to settle in the new area 
if he intends to> farm "or use cattle. It is not 
generally known that "nagana" does not confine 
itself to horned cattle. Donkeys, sheep, goats, 
dogs, horses, all are subject to its ravages. In 
other words, the presence of "nagana" makes 
farming of any description impossible, unless one 
uses motor transport. 
Mr. Martens advocates that all restrictions 
against the shooting of big game should be re- 
moved as regards the areas bordering the reserve, 
