298 
ON SAFARI 
the game ! They advocate violent changes, relaxation 
of the game-laws, reduction of “ sanctuaries,” and so on. 
The logic of this is sultry, as befits its tropical birth¬ 
place ; let us turn to lighter vein. 
“ Of what possible use is the rhinoceros ? Like the 
bull in a china-shop, he is far more dangerous than 
picturesque; he can walk through a fence as a nigger 
through a melon-patch, and is far more destructive. 
What good are such beasts as the hippo, lion, leopard, 
and buffalo ? All can only be classed as the most 
dangerous vermin ” ! Somewhat grotesquely, these cogi¬ 
tations are still prefaced by the declaration that “for the 
preservation of the fauna of this country, none is a 
stronger advocate than the Editor.” 
Now, my dear Mr. Editor, have you seriously 
considered that if you, in a passing fit of “ the blues,” 
decide on exterminating the rhino, the lion and all the 
rest, that that crime will remain irreparable till the end 
of time ? While there is, on the other hand, no evidence 
of any failure in the. race of editors. There are ingrates 
who might rejoice to see a few more rhinos and fewer . . . 
say thoughtless scribblers. 
Here is another question from the same source : 
“ Why should vast tracts be reserved as sanctuaries for 
game, and the sturdy immigrant with moderate capital 
be forbidden to settle thereon?” Well, I will answer 
that question. Those tracts were delineated years ago 
(by experts who knew by long years’ experience what 
they were doing) as absolutely uninhabitable by man — 
white or black. The absence of water, the presence of 
tsetse-fiy, malaria and such-like natural causes preclude 
these regions ever being settled upon. They are useless 
for any other purpose, and are therefore reserved for 
game. If you, my “ sturdy immigrant,” don’t know 
this, it is clear you need some one to tell you for your 
own advantage. But, quite possibly, you do know it 
all; yet still want to settle on forbidden ground merely 
because it is forbidden—out of sheer “ cussedness,” in 
short. Again, it is conceivable (to those who have been 
