148 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



not be encountered, and travel in this country would 

 thereby be much facilitated. I have heard it stated, 

 that in South Africa zebras have been tamed suffi- 

 ciently to be harnessed to a coach. If such is the 

 case, I see no reasons why, with proper methods and 

 patience, they could not be broken to become excel- 

 lent pack animals. I hope the British government, 

 which appears to have at length decided to open up 

 East Africa, will, ere it is too late, and sportsmen have 

 exterminated the zebra, give this matter the attention 

 which it deserves ; for I feel convinced that intelligent 

 efforts made with this end in view will be amply re- 

 paid. In my opinion, the sum of #5000 would be suf- 

 ficient for such an experiment. The zebras could be 

 captured, either by building stockades near their drink- 

 ing-places, into which they could be driven and secured; 

 or, perhaps still better, by horsemen provided with 

 lassos. The zebras in this part of the world are so 

 tame, that I think there would be little difficulty ex- 

 perienced in their capture. 



Near Mount Chabba, I saw for the first time what I 

 might correctly term a herd of rhinoceroses. I counted 

 six feeding close together. Usually these animals are 

 met with singly, or at most in pairs ; and when two 

 are found together, they are usually a mother and 

 offspring. 



At this camp I examined the rifles carried by my men, 

 and found them in a very unsatisfactory condition. I 

 served out a bit of rae and some melted zebra fat to 

 each man, and informed the men that in three hours I 

 would inspect the rifles, and I expected then to find them 

 thoroughly cleaned. The result gives a fair idea of one 



