1927-09-10 — Page 9

ELEPHANTS IN UGANDA.

GAME WARDEN'S REPORT,

MAN KILLING LIONS.

KENYA

THE "PICTURES."

VIEWS OF PEERS, M.P.'S, TYPISTS AND LABOURERS.

BISHOPS WHO "NEVER GO,"

peers,

opinion.

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th, 1927.

CHANGED DAYS.

BUT MORE FUN.

[UY ROBERT MACWHIRTSR.]

was busy wearing under his breath when he wasna' buying a ticket for a oil Time was when about all

As I was saying, things are ye Many interesting replies have

when you heen received to a questionnaire, changing. Time was The first official record "of the What do the British flm public couldna' get a real drink at no which Mr. Sidney.C.L. Bazaar for love or cer- game in Uganda is contained in wan: "

Bernstein, the London cinema the initial report. of the Game

theatre proprietor, has had eren tainly no' for money. Time was, Warden, Captain C. R. S. Pitmaalated. More than 300,000 of these in the days of Helena (of blessed The Game Department cuma into questionaires were sent out, and memory), when the cavirons of 3.P.'s, elergy, clerka, Government House were more than being through the necessity for con-

and labourers wire invited to give their views, adequate for the yearly display and trolling the huge herds of elephants typists, artisans. which infested the country,

The Report explaing, at length 30 that the voting-the completo nearly every man you came across esult will not be known for three the measures adopted for the can-weeks-will present all shades of tro of elephants. Captain Pitman

Appended are some of believes that it will be possible an- the opinions already to hand:- nually for many decades to carry out a thinning process among the arius herds without causi diminution in

numbers. There is still plenty of room in figanda." he remarks, for both the population and the elephants, but a comparatively inrge number must he destroyed to prevent them from overrunning. the country. It would be impos- sible to find work for the thousands of elephants brought into the world rach year, even if domestication proved successful.""

Lord Erskine. I should like to body could do was to wear an see the British film take the place inane smirk on his face and try of the American film, which has no moral in it."

his hand at clock gold, I mind one Earl of Glasgow." dialike rear old Bullock and me ranning American films with American biseround, dislike still more to the final at seme auch game. 5lms, with cbvious Who won T just forget. Another istorical Americans acting the part. One painful experience that once befel can never mistake an American

which looks out me was when a Colonial Secretary mannerism..

jamuned me against a table and persisted in telling mo alleged Scot's jokes interspersed wi bits oot o' light opera. Some o and

yon folk never know when to draw the fine cnyway.

of place in a Drake or a cavalier." M.P. Opinions. Butter,

M.P.

Sir Ge-Brey The English motion picture busi- ness should copy German Swedish methods: not American

Mr. A. Newman Davis, M.P.- "Would prefer to see British films to any others."

Mr. C. C. Jones, M.P.-"I want

Time was when a woman peut $10 dressing a doll and sold it to

to see British films more often." "another for $4.50 Then there was

Mr. Robert Morrison, M.P.-"I

chute which was all right should like to

sce pictures based nit of

two

Grent harm was done in the past, the Game Warden considers, by the use of unsuitable methods in deal ing with elephants, such as indis criminate shooting. These methods iniled to exterminate the animals that caused damage to crops, whils great harm was done to the herds by isexpert hunters, who left be hind them large numbers al wound- ed and vicious beasts. The present on the plays or novels of Shaw, in its way, although, mind ye, I' system is to divide the country into

Dickens, Arnold Bennett, Gale wouldna' be prepared to say that elephant and non-elephant treas worthy, Welle, etc."

yon sort of recreation was exactly Only in the former the animals are pro-

denounce replies

the thing for a body's fundament- tected, and in the latter they are British films.

hot when they appear in order to Mr. Davy Burnaby Why should als. These also were the days when drive them to their reservations. Parliament be compelling people Long defensive fronts stretching by law to see rotten English pic what between toffee making, whist across the country have thus beentures? We have cot enough light drives and dances, I may as well established. In Bunyoro, for over here to make pictures, it is have been a grass widower for a instance, there is an anti-elephant

Mr: Iver Montagu- Prefer the notice Janet kook o' front of about 130 miles, while in not our own fault." Toro, on the contrary, there are American films. Never pay to see mind once o' having an awfu" row numerous small breeding-grounds British Elmas."

about a missing trouser pre- where they may roam unmolested. The European and Indian game

but, man, when I look back, what rangers employed by the Depart

was an odd button or two so long ment are assisted by native guards.

as she enjoyed herself. The success of a ranger judged by the weight of ivory he obtaias, but by the pretretion he affords to the culivated areas. These methods have been attended with considerable success, bus the The Bishop of Litchfield "bas Game Warden believes that the

never yet entered a cinema." The elephants have now to some extent Bishop of Birmingham is not in "become wise to the control mea- the habit of attending cinemas." the fun of the fair. sures. They have varied their tac- The Bishop of Chichester replies: ties accordingly and not intre-Never go, as it attains my eyes.' quently attack gardens in the dark. The Bishop of Wakefield: I have

only seen about four. No time. money it's got to interest. them that make it the men. Ia theory,,, it may be all wrong but human nature

31

Some Elephant Stories.

is.. not

Other voters indicate no

ference for British films, but men tion the type of film they favour. Mr. Rhys Davies, M.P.-"I see so much tragedy in daily life that I never go to a cinema anless I am sure of a good laugh.

"

Bishops Too Busy.

The Marquis of Hertford does not take any interest in pictures,"

#

me. 1

button,

As I was saying, things are alto- gether different. The Lee Gardens all to themselves, brass bands galore, cabarets, fireworks, conjur ing, processions, tes dances and all

At last the

M.C.L. have got the right idea and that is that if it wants to make

The Game Warden estimates the elephant population of the Protec-and Fiscount Gladstone never being as it is, there will never be torate at about 20,000, and one get vivid glimpses of the lives of these great animals from the pages of

frequents cinemas.'

Others who much giving without the induce- admit rare visite are the Earl of ment of mild "excitement. In oay Effingham, Lord Younger, the Earl case, it's more charitable to keep the report. All bulls carrying of Clarendon, and Lord Des- the end in view than to criticise reasonably heavy tusks have been borough. On the other hand, the the means.

for the sarget of elephant hunters fully 90 years and are mostly rid-Marquis of Donegal writes: "I mean!

dled with bulleta.

infortunate

|

or boofed mammala, including the Peculiaritica of the various types of the various types of buffalo.

frequent cinemas twice a week on One ele the average." phant did catch a tracker, but let him go again almost uninjured, as the native guard stood by and pumred lead into the animal from 203 s fast as he could fire." And again One elephant 01 goodly size, but im mature, wandered right into Fort Portal and eventually had to be killed as it became so lost and be. wildered as to be not only a nuis ance but a public danger. Under the beading of "Vicious Herds," the Game Warden" remarks:-

Extensive investigations have been made into the question of the characteristics and occurrence of There so-called vicious herds.

A chapter is devoted to birds and another to reptiles, with notes on

remedies for snake bite.

You know what I

21

At the same time, though, there's lots o' folk no' what you'd call altruistic when it comes to spend- ing money as things of the kind I happened to mention that same thing to MacPherson just the other nigh but whether it was because I'd just thrown five sixes in one or what, I don't know but Mac, he was kinda carnaptious. You know, when a man gets stuck three times running, he's very apt to get that.) way.

You and your big words," a*** he as he signed his book, "you make me tired. Half the time. 1 don't believe you know what they mean onyway."

"There's something in that," ears I. but you know, Mac, a man that knows what he's talking about all the time is very liable co' to bị an interesting as one that doesna' bother about the facts so long as he keeps you entertained. That's metaphysics onyway.'

Ay," says he, how d'ye make that cot

Then I explained.

"Mac," says 1, "it's like this. When the party who listens doesna' know what the party who speaks, means, and when the party who speaks doerna know what he theang himself that's metaphy sics.

It sounds to me more like damned nonsense than earthing else," said he.

A section which deals with dan gerous and destructive animals re fers to buffaloes which dominate water holes denied to the inhabit- ants of terrorized villages, and de- clares that this is the one animal Uganda of which the natives are throughly terrified. There have been spasmodic outbreaks of man- killing by lions in addition to the can be no such thing as a vicious notorious Banga lions, and at pre- herd in which individuals act coi-sent there are far too many cases lectively in adopting aggressive of this kind in Uganda," but out tactics against human beings. That breaks of man-killing by leoparda one or two bad-tempered and vici- are not serious Then there are ous animals will influence the recrocodiles and snakes, and, strange mainder of a herd and that that to add, hippopotami, which some- herd will follow its leader is be times, both on water and land, yond doubt... Kill these lend-attack with wanton savagery. ers and, as far as man-hunting is There are animals destructive to concerned, the herd will sink into stock and property, others destruc- eblivion.

tive to game, and yet others Other Animals..

destructive to fish which have their The Report contain valuable place in the Report, and an ae notes on the distribution and gen- count is given of game. disertes, # constant eral babita of other game-the with the comment that. chimpanzee, about which so little evidence accumulates of the unwis is known on account of its elusive; dom of interfering with the fecretive habits, with a cry which balance of nature and that the ex- is half

a human whistle and half termination of game would, in all a scream the white eyelid mon- probability, bring in its train than at present key; the handsome patas monkey, greater evils which will fight fiercely in a rough, exist." and tumble with a dog; the golden A note on the white rhinoceros monkey, of the volcano region states that the main haunt of the the mischievous and bold blue species in Uganda in along the left monkey, with the handsome skin, bank of the Albert Nile, where they and the various varieties of colo- are particularly plentiful.

Captain Pitman writes de mission to kill or capture speci bus. lightfully of the tiny hush baby, mens is sparingly granted in the

about the size of a half-grown interests of science. kitten, hind-legs-like stoel, capable of being made a wonderful pet," and of the West African posto, which sleeps during the day rolled up into a ball. Among the flesh eiters he refers to the leopard, and animal now known to be compara- But simply turned adrift to roam 1 notes that no records exist of the tirely harmless, and the descrip- Uganda variety being subject to tion of the majority of gorilla f such there be just take his trunk melanism; the various forms of hunts is simply a tale of indefen- And soothe him if he's in a funk,

The And load him with compassion. filled terval cat the African wild-cat,sible, sickeningslaughter... which is the ancestor of the do species is not so scarce as was once To give to Hong Kong Women's

Quild. mestic tabby and crasses freely believed, and with adequate. pre- with its tame relatives.

"

Per-

And I'm no so ture but what he isa' right.

HONG KONG WOMEN'S GUILD AND M.C.L.

LEE GARDERS,

October 1st. White Elephants. withia Has any one on Elephant Captain That's white and therefore simply

can't

A special chapter on the gorilla

the population places. Uganda at about 100.. Pitman, declares that there can be little sport in the pursuit of an

tection there is acant likelihood of

Be put to any use at home,

***For at Lee Gardens (see above) In the wonderful variety of extinction. faune, this most valuable. Report The Report concludes with some White Jumbos find just what they contains motes on the rodents of notes on the Banga lions and on love

the Protectorate, the Ungulates, the characteristics of man-eaters A nice new home and lots to eat"

And sweet repose for tired fleet. (Continued on neit Column)in general Times.

HONG KONG WOMEN'S GUILD

AND

MINISTERING CHILDREN'S LEAGUE.

ON

Fun o the Fair.

TO BE HELD AT

LEE GARDENS

OCTOBER 1ST.

from 3 pm to 11 pm

A magnificent array of attractions including

1927

THREE REGIMENTAL BANDS,

Dancing to H. K. & S. Hotels Super-Orchestra,

GRAND FIREWORK DISPLAY.

CABARET SHOWS, CHINESE CONJURING.

DRAGON PROCESSION.

DONKEY RIDES

Teas and all the usual Candy Stalls, etc.

Come, Lasses

and Lads

!

Charity Begins at the Fair!