J Swift

So Geographers in Afric' Maps

With savage pictures fill their gaps

And o'er uninhabitable downs

Place elephants for want of towns

J. Swift 1733

These verses were quoted [p56] in an interesting little book An Introduction to the History of East Africa written by Zoe Marsh and G Kingsnorth in 1957. Fortunately, the elephants are still there but enormous gaps in people's knowledge remain concerning Tanzania.

Geographers in Afric Maps

With savage Pictures fill their Gaps

And o'er uninhabitable Downs

Place Elephants for want of Towns