3 12 
A COLONY IN THE MAKING 
CHAP. 
eland, Greater and Lesser Kudu, impala, Waller’s 
gazelle, oryx ( Beisa ), Grevy’s zebra, waterbuck [defasset), 
and the two northern forms of Grant’s gazelle, 
besides the smaller buck. It is probable that, finally, 
this Reserve will be one of the last strongholds of the 
elephant, and a means of ensuring the preservation 
of Greater Kudu, Oryx [Beisa) and Grevy’s zebra. 
It is to the Southern Game Reserve that most 
attention is directed. The tract of country set aside 
here runs parallel to the railway line from Nairobi down 
to Tsavo, and contains about 10,000 square miles. The 
land comprised in the area varies considerably, but a 
very large proportion of it is quite unfit for white settle¬ 
ment. With the exception of a small swamp or two and 
a few waterholes, the only permanent water is that of 
the Tsavo and Southern Guaso Nyiro rivers, which form 
the southern and western boundaries, and also the head 
waters of the Athi. Certain portions might possibly 
be suitable for sheep, one to ten acres, and a smaller 
portion might perhaps grow cereals if carefully 
cultivated on the dry-farming principle ; as a whole, 
however, it may be said to be agriculturally valueless. 
Travellers on the Uganda Railway are apt to get a 
somewhat erroneous idea both as to the nature of the 
land comprised in this Reserve and of the amount of 
game contained therein. Heading northwards, the 
line cuts the Athi plains, which it traverses for some 
thirty miles, and to the west may be seen great 
stretches of fairish grazing, extending apparently as far 
as the eye can reach and covered with huge herds of 
zebra, wildebeeste, antelope, and gazelle. One is apt 
to say, “ If I can see so many thousand head of game 
in so small a section of this large district, what an 
incredible amount of game the whole Reserve must 
