THE AGRIOVLT 



URAL JOURNAL. 



273 



"The eland, called 'kanna' by the 

 Hottentots, is a handsome animal, of a 

 stonter make tlmn the other antelopes, 

 j'et still possessing much elegance, to 

 which its straight, spiral horns, pointing 

 backwards, and thin legs, in a great 

 measure contribute. While young they 

 are fleeter than the generality of Cape 

 horses, but when old their bulk, especially 

 the males, renders them heavy and more 

 easily overtaken. Their fur, or, more 

 properly, hair, is most frequently thin 

 and short, and in colour a uniform brown, 

 in some approaching to a bluish ash 

 colour, in others to sandy hue. From the 

 other antelopes it is distinguished by a 

 remarkably large dewlap, and is, when at 

 its full size, estimated to be generally 

 larger than an ox, with respect to the 

 quantity of flesh." Vol. II. p. 194. 

 " These unfortunate animals were not 

 allowed to rest in safety either by day or 

 night, and were now pursued by more 

 formidable enemies than lions. Their 

 flesh being, as before remarked, much 

 superior in taste and in fatness to nearly 

 all other kinds of game, they were always, 

 by preference, chased by the Hottentots, 

 while other animals were passed by un- 

 molested." 



By favour of the Minister for Mines 

 and Agriculture I can include the most 

 important piece of information. It is 

 more to the point than any of the pre- 

 ceding, and is a letter explaining itself : — 



Office of the Civil Commissioner and 

 Resident Magistrate of Graafl: Reinet, 



15th October, 1900. 



DOMESTICATION OF THE ELAND. 



The Under Secretary for Agriculture, 

 Capetown, — 



In compliance with your letter No. 

 2,843/3,299 of the 4th ultimo, I have the 

 honour to report as follows : — 



Mr. Isaac Booysen, of Klipdrift, alone 

 has elands. The father of Messrs. Booysen 

 received, in November, 1892, a year-old 

 bull, and early in 1893 a year-old bull 

 and heifer, and towards the end of 1893 

 two young heifers. 



The first calf from them was reared in 

 1894, and although seven have been sold, 

 viz,, one bull to Mr. Rhodes, one bull and 

 heifer to Mr. Newbury in the Orange 

 River Colony, and two bulls and two 



heifers to Europe, and six have died, viz., 

 two heifers of inoculation, one cow from 

 poison, two calves and one bull accident- 

 ally killed —Mr. Booysen has since kept 

 two bulls, four cows, two heifers, and one 

 young bull calf. The heifers take the 

 bulls at from fifteen to eighteen months. 

 One cow dropped a calf on the 11th July, 

 last year, and on the 3rd June this year 

 she had another calf. The first calf w^as 

 reared by hand. 



The herd is kept in an enclosure with 

 wire fence about 7 feet high, which they 

 can easilj' jum]}, but do not trouble to do 

 so, as they do not seem to wander about 

 much. They eat gi-ass and karoo, but pre- 

 fer bush of every kind, even eating the 

 bitter aloe. They, however, destroy a 

 good number of trees, snapping fair-sized 

 branches with their horns. They grow 

 faster than cattle, are easily tamed, and 

 the bulls, unlike most game, do not become 

 vicious when domesticated. They keep 

 their condition well, and can do without 

 water for a long time. M. Booysen tells 

 me the herd has not had water for the 

 last four months. Of course, on the farm 

 there is an abundence of succulent bush, 

 such as spekboom, &c. 



A large bull taken off the grass will 

 weigh about 1,5001b., while a cow will 

 weigh from 600 to 7001b. 



Mr. Booysen easily obtains from £150 

 to £200 for young pairs. 



(Signed) ARTHUR S. HOOLE, 



Acting Civil Commissioner. 



Mr. Booysen obtained two bulls and 

 three heifers. The first calf was born in 

 1894, since which time he has — 



Sold ... ... ... 7 



Died from accidental causes... 6 

 On hand of increase ... 4 



17 



at £150 per pair = £1,275 ; had he not 

 been unfortunate, the increase is fair. 



What can the English parks do for the 

 world ? If they would, they could not. 

 The climate there does not suit, the food 

 there is artificial. No mimosa, no karro- 

 doorn, no kanna bosch, no spekboom ; 

 but hay and roots in winter houses ; yet 

 they live, but it must affect their breed- 

 ing and the flavour of the meat. Many, 

 animals will live on other than their 

 natural diet, but the natural craving is 



