212 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT
to
many farm settlements, such as Olifantfontein, Olifants-vlei, etc.
There is said to be a herd of elephants in a semi-wild state somewhere
in the eastern part of Cape Colony.
In
Rhodesia, however, where the European settlements are of so much more
recent date, a certain number of elephants remain, and are protected
by legal enactments. This state of things, though pleasant enough for
the elephants, has proved less agreeable for the farmers, whose crops
were often badly damaged by the wandering herds. Indeed, so earnest
were the complaints made to the authorities from this source, that
special permission is said to have been granted to kill a number of the
aggressors.*
In
this colony permits for shooting animals of the class denominated
"Royal Game," in which the elephant is comprised, may be secured from
the administrator if he can be assured that the animals are really
required for scientific purposes. A £5 stamp must be affixed to the
permit. Applications must be addressed to the Director of Agriculture
and must be accompanied by documentary proof of good faith.
Should
crops be damaged by any kind of game, the occupier of the land is
authorized to kill the offending animals, and in certain "open areas"
in the Hartley district and the Sebungwe district permission was given
to shoot or capture all classes of game except ostriches and other
birds classified as game, for a period of one year from July 1,1913,
the same privilege being accorded for the Lomagundi district from
November 1,1913. The shooting or capturing of elephants on the Waiden
Farm in the Hartley district, or within five miles of this farm, was
granted for a period of one year from April 9, 1914, no special license
being required. It is expressly decreed that the holding of a license
to shoot
*Communicated by Dr. Ε. Τ. Mellor, Geological Survey, Mines Department, Pretoria, May, 1914.
