Test Bank for Systems Analysis and Design, 7th Edition, Alan Dennis
Test Bank for Systems Analysis and Design, 7th Edition, Alan Dennis
Test Bank for Systems Analysis and Design, 7th Edition, Alan Dennis
Test Bank for Systems Analysis and Design, 7th Edition, Alan Dennis
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6. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 1
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Multiple Choice
1. The outcome of the analysis phase is the:
a) Feasibility analysis document
b) System proposal document
c) System specification document
d) System request document
e) Business process document
Ans: b
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy
2. The outcome of the planning phase is the:
a) Test plan
b) System proposal document
c) System specification document
d) System request document
e) Business process document
Ans: d
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: easy
3. The outcome of the design phase is the:
a) Feasibility analysis document
b) System proposal document
c) System specification document
d) System request document
e) Business process document
Ans: c
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: easy
7. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 2
4. Another outcome of the planning phase is the:
a) Feasibility analysis document
b) Project plan
c) System specification document
d) System proposal document
e) Business process document
Ans: b
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: easy
5. Which is NOT true for systems analysts?
a) They create value for an organization
b) They enable the organization to perform work better
c) They do things and challenge the current way that an organization works
d) They play a key role in information systems development projects
e) They are the project sponsors for system proposals
Ans: e
Response: See Introduction
Difficulty: medium
6. Which is NOT an attribute of a systems analyst?
a) Understanding what to change
b) Knowing how to change it
c) Convincing others of the need to change
d) Serving as a change agent
e) Selecting which projects to approve
Ans: e
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: easy
7. Which of the following project roles would identify how technology can improve business
processes?
a) Systems analyst
b) Business analyst
c) Infrastructure analyst
d) Change management analyst
e) Requirements analyst
8. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 3
Ans: a
Response: See The System Analyst
Difficulty: easy
8. Which of the following project roles would insure that the system conforms to information
systems standards?
a) Systems analyst
b) Business analyst
c) Infrastructure analyst
d) Change management analyst
e) Project manager
Ans: a
Response: See The System Analyst
Difficulty: easy
9. Which of the following project roles would focus on stakeholder requirements?
a) Systems analyst
b) Business analyst
c) Infrastructure analyst
d) Change management analyst
e) Requirements analyst
Ans: e
Response: See The System Analyst
Difficulty: easy
10. Which of the following project roles would serve as a primary point of contact for a project?
a) Systems analyst
b) Business analyst
c) Infrastructure analyst
d) Change management analyst
e) Project sponsor
Ans: e
Response: See Project Identification and Initiation
Difficulty: easy
11. Which of the following project roles would analyze the key business aspects of the system?
a) Systems analyst
b) Business analyst
c) Infrastructure analyst
9. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 4
d) Change management analyst
e) Project manager
Ans: b
Response: See The System Analyst
Difficulty: easy
12. Michaela is a systems analyst who is determining business requirements. What would most
likely be the SDLC phase for her?
a) Planning
b) Analysis
c) Design
d) Implementation
e) Business requirements are not developed by systems analysts, but by business analysts
Ans: b
Response: See Figure 1-3: The Systems Development Life Cycle Phases Difficulty: easy
13. Chang is working on “How will this system work.” What SDLC phase is he in?
a) Planning
b) Analysis
c) Design
d) Implementation
e) Transition
Ans: c
Response: See Figure 1-3: The Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: medium
14. Joan’s project is to take a fairly straight-forward manual process and make it an electronic
process. This will make the processing more efficient. Which of the following
requirements analysis strategies is she using?
a) Business process automation
b) Business process improvement
c) Business process internalization
d) Business process reengineering
e) Business process renovation
Ans: a
Response: See Business Process Automation
10. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 5
Difficulty: easy
15. Wayne is a senior director of finance. His company only recently came under Sarbanes-
Oxley regulations and is the project sponsor to become compliant. He realizes that
examining the as-is system may not be much help as the regulations are so radical that a
major analysis and design project must be completed to make the company compliant. He is
leaning towards: ______________
a) Business process automation
b) Business process improvement
c) Business process internalization
d) Business process reengineering
e) Business process renovation
Ans: d
Response: See Business Process Reengineering
Difficulty: medium
16. Moderate changes to existing processes falls under the _________ analysis.
a) Business process automation (BPA)
b) Business process improvement (BPI)
c) Business process reengineering (BPR)
d) Business process blue-skying (BPB)
e) Business process efficiency (BPE)
Ans: b
Response: See Business Process Improvement
Difficulty: easy
17. Alice is calculating whether a system will lower costs or increase revenues. What SDLC
phase is she in?
a) Planning
b) Analysis
c) Design
d) Implementation
e) Evaluation
Ans: a
Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle
Difficulty: medium
18. Which was NOT given as a method for determining business requirements?
a) Benchmarking
b) Interviewing
c) Observation
11. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 6
d) Document analysis
e) Questionnaires and surveys
Ans: a
Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle
Difficulty: medium
19. Which would normally NOT be a reason for a project?
a) When a business need has been identified
b) A consultant has suggested a new customer relationship management system
c) An open source platform has just come on the market
d) An existing system just isn’t working properly and the workaround is tedious
e) To support a new business initiative
Ans: c
Response: See Project Identification and Initiation
Difficulty: medium
20. Which phase is generally the longest and most expensive part of the development process?
a) Planning
b) Analysis
c) Design
d) Implementation
e) Feasibility
Ans: d
Response: See Implementation
Difficulty: easy
21. Because the cost can be immense, _________ is one of the most critical steps in
implementation.
a) Documentation
b) Coding
c) Testing
d) Developing a conversion strategy
e) Training
Ans: c
Response: See Implementation
Difficulty: medium
22. PCM Incorporated will need to purchase new servers for a system. This would be a:
12. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 7
a) Development cost
b) Operating cost
c) Ongoing cost
d) Intangible cost
e) Intangible benefit
Ans: a
Response: See Feasibility Analysis
Difficulty: easy
23. Linda is a clerk in the accounting department. She was interviewed by David and is excited
about the proposed system that will utilize electronic funds transfer. This would be an
example of ______.
a) Tangible benefit
b) Cash flow
c) Break-even analysis
d) Intangible benefit
e) Return on investment
Ans: d
Response: See Feasibility Analysis
Difficulty: medium
24. Ramya is preparing an economic feasibility study. She has a calculation where she takes
total benefits minus total costs and divides that answer by the total costs. She is calculating:
a) Cash flow
b) Return on investment
c) Break-even point
d) Net present value
e) Internal rate of return
Ans: b
Response: See Economic Feasibility
Difficulty: medium
25. Ramona is preparing an economic feasibility study. She is calculating the payback period.
She is calculating:
a) Cash flow
b) Return on investment
c) Break-even point
d) Net present value
e) Internal rate of return
Ans: c
13. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 8
Response: See Economic Feasibility
Difficulty: medium
26. Robert is doing an economic analysis using today’s dollar values. He is doing:
a) Cash flow analysis
b) Return on investment analysis
c) Break-even point analysis
d) Net present value analysis
e) Internal rate of return analysis
Ans: d
Response: See Economic Feasibility
Difficulty: medium
27. TJ has prepared a spreadsheet where the total benefits are $182,000; the total cumulative
costs are $120,000. The ROI would be:
a) $62,000
b) About 34%
c) About 51.7%
d) About 65.3%
e) Less than 20%
Ans: c
Response: See Economic Feasibility
Difficulty: hard
28. Which of the following project roles would probably make a presentation about the
objectives of a proposed project and its benefits to executives who will benefit directly from
the project?
a) Requirements analyst
b) Systems analyst
c) Project manager
d) Champion
e) Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Ans: d
Response: See Organizational Feasibility
Difficulty: medium
29. Which is an activity the users probably will NOT do on a project?
a) Make decisions that influence the project
14. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 9
b) Budget funds for the project
c) Perform hands-on activities for the project
d) Be assigned specific tasks to perform (with clear deadlines)
e) Have some official roles on the project team
Ans: b
Response: See Organizational Feasibility
Difficulty: hard
30. The type of skill that is common to systems analysts to deal fairly and honestly with other
project team members is:
a) Technical
b) Business
c) Analytical
d) Interpersonal
e) Ethical
Ans: e
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: easy
31. The type of skill that is common to systems analysts to understand how IT can be applied to
business situations and to ensure that the IT delivers real business value is:
a) Technical
b) Business
c) Analytical
d) Interpersonal
e) Ethical
Ans: b
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: easy
32. Rocky is dealing one-on-one with users and business managers (including some that have
little experience with technology). He is demonstrating what system analyst skill?
a) Technical
b) Business
c) Analytical
d) Interpersonal
e) Ethical
Ans: d
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: easy
15. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 10
33. Becky is a systems analyst for Laswell Consulting. She is attending a three-day intensive
workshop on developing applications in php. What systems analyst skill is she working on?
a) Technical
b) Business
c) Analytical
d) Interpersonal
e) Ethical
Ans: a
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: easy
34. Jack is going over financial numbers for a proposed project. Which of the following system
analyst skills is he exhibiting currently?
a) Technical
b) Business
c) Analytical
d) Interpersonal
e) Management
Ans: c
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: easy
35. Amy is planning on talking with a clerk and a manager in the accounts payable area, a
manager in the procurement department, and two vendors. She is probably doing:
a) Observation
b) Interviews
c) JAD
d) Documentation analysis
e) Organizational Feasibility
Ans: b
Response: See Analysis
Difficulty: easy
36. Kallie is creating use cases, data flow diagrams, and entity relationship diagrams. In what
phase of the SDLC would she do this?
a) Planning
b) Analysis
c) Design
d) Construction
e) Implementation
16. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 11
Ans: c
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: medium
Chapter 1 Questions – True / False
37. The primary goal of a system is to create value for the organization.
Ans: True
Response: See Introduction
Difficulty: easy
38. Systems analysis and design projects are highly effective, with less than 3% of all projects
cancelled or abandoned.
Ans: False
Response: See Introduction
Difficulty: easy
39. Systems that are cancelled or abandoned are frequently due to a lack of clarity about how
the system should support an organization’s goals and improve processes..
Ans: True
Response: See Introduction
Difficulty: easy
40. The key person in the SDLC is the systems analyst who analyzed the business situation,
identifies opportunities for improvements and design an information system to implement
the improvements.
Ans: True
Response: See Introduction
Difficulty: easy
17. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 12
41. Systems analysts are generally experts in business, finance, and application development.
Ans: False
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: medium
42. When compared to a business analyst, the systems analyst will identify how the system will
provide business value.
Ans: False
Response: See Project Identification and Initiation
Difficulty: medium
43. The business analyst role focuses on the business issues surrounding the system.
Ans: False
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: easy
44. When compared to a systems analyst, the business analyst will probably have more
responsibility for determining business value.
Ans: True
Response: See Project Identification and Initiation
Difficulty: easy
45. Because of the need to be focused on providing information about the business value of a
system, a systems analyst will probably have much training or experience in programming
or application development.
Ans: False
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: easy
46. The requirements analyst role includes complete and accurate determination of what the
system requirements consist of for all stakeholders.
Ans: True
Response: See The Systems Analyst
Difficulty: easy
18. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 13
47. The SDLC generally can be broken into four phases: planning, analysis, design and
implementation.
Ans: True
Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle
Difficulty: easy
48. In SDLC, analysis is generally divided into three steps: understanding the as-is system;
developing a cost-benefit analysis; and understanding the technical feasibility.
Ans: False
Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle
Difficulty: easy
49. Anne has asked users and managers to identify problems with the as-is system and to
describe how to solve them in the to-be system. She is probably in the analysis phase of
SDLC.
Ans. True
Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle
Difficulty: easy
50. Determining business requirements is generally done in the planning phase of the SDLC.
Ans: False
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: easy
Difficulty: easy
51. The primary output of the planning phase is the system request.
Ans: True
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: easy
52. The primary output of the analysis phase is the system proposal.
19. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 14
Ans: True
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: easy
53. The normal sequence of SDLC phase outputs (from beginning to end) would be: system
request; system proposal; system specifications; and installed system.
Ans: True
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: easy
54. The question ‘Can we build it’ is asked in the design phase.
Ans: False
Response: See The Systems Development Life Cycle
Difficulty: easy
55. Interviewing is generally done in the analysis phase of the SDLC.
Ans: True
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: easy
56. Juan is creating use cases. He is working in the design phase of the SDLC.
Ans: False
Response: See Figure 1-3: Systems Development Life Cycle Phases
Difficulty: easy
57. The planning phase of the SDLC will have two steps: project initiation and requirements
determination.
Ans: False
Response: See Planning
Difficulty: easy
58. The three feasibility analyses in the text were: organizational feasibility, technical
feasibility, and economic feasibility.
Ans: True
Response: See Planning
Difficulty: easy
20. Chapter 1 – Systems Analysis and Design – Dennis / Wixom / Roth – page 15
59. Developing navigation methods, database, and file specifications and what architecture to
use would occur in the design phase of the SDLC.
Ans: True
Response: See Design
Difficulty: easy
60. A support plan for the system is established in the implementation phase of the SDLC.
Ans: True
Response: See Implementation
Difficulty: easy
61. The project sponsor should have an idea of the business value to be gained from the system.
Ans: True
Response: See Project Identification and Initiation
Difficulty: easy
62. The document that describes the business reasons for building a system and the value that
the system is expected to provide is called the “System Proposal.”
Ans: False
Response: See System Request
Difficulty: easy
63. A system request will generally have these items: project sponsor; business need; business
requirements; business value; special issues or constraints.
Ans: True
Response: See System Request
Difficulty: medium
64. The three factors in the text for a feasibility analysis are: technical feasibility;
organizational feasibility and economic feasibility.
Ans: True
Response: See Feasibility Analysis
Difficulty: easy
22. successfully upon the “plate.” But they “spring frightened away”! The
cunning, the caution, and the shyness of these animals make all
attempts at photographing them very troublesome indeed; for to
secure a good result you need plenty of sunlight, besides the absence
of trees between you and the desired object. And when everything
seems to favour you, there is sure to be something wanting—very
probably the camera itself. Fortune favours the photographer at
sudden and unexpected moments, and then only for a very short
while. One instant too late, and you may have to wait weeks, months,
even years for your next opportunity. I would give nine-tenths of the
photos I have taken of animal life for some half-dozen others which I
was unable to take because I did not have my camera to hand just at
the right moment. Thus it was with the photographing of the three
lions I killed on January 25, 1897, and of the four others I saw on the
same day, on the then almost unknown Athi plains in the Wakikuju
country. Also with that great herd of elephants which so nearly did for
me, and which I should have dearly liked to photograph just as they
began their onrush. (I have told the story in With Flashlight and Rifle.)
I remember, too, the sight of a giraffe herd of forty-five head which I
came across on November 4, 1897,12
about two days’ journey north-
west of the Kilimanjaro. The hunter of to-day would travel over the
velt for a very long while before meeting with anything similar. In
earlier days immense numbers of long-necked giraffe-like creatures,
now extinct, lived on the velt; the rare Okapi, that was discovered in
the Central African forests a short time ago, has aroused the interest
of zoologists as being a relative of that extinct species.
23. C. G. Schillings, phot.
A GIRAFFE IN FULL FLIGHT.
C. G. Schillings, phot.
A GIRAFFE BULL IN AN ACACIA GROVE.
24. Within the last hundred or even fifty years, the giraffe itself was to be
found in large herds in many parts of Africa. The first giraffe of which
we know appeared in the Roman arena. About two hundred years ago
we are told some specimens were brought over to Europe, and
caused much astonishment. The Nubian menageries some years ago
brought a goodly number of the strange beasts to our zoological
gardens.13
But how many people have seen giraffes in their native
haunts? When, in 1896, I saw them thus for the first time, I realised
how thin and wretched our captive specimens are by the side of the
splendid creatures of the velt. Le Vaillant, in his accounts of his travels
in Cape Colony and the country known to-day as German South-West
Africa, gives a spirited description of these animals, and tells how
after much labour and trouble he managed to take a carefully dried
skin to the coast and to send it to Germany. That was seventy years
ago. Since then many Europeans have seen giraffes, but they have
told us very little about them. The German explorer Dr. Richard Böhm
has given us wonderfully accurate information about them and their
ways. But the beautiful water-colours so excellently drawn by a hand
so soon to be disabled in Africa, were lost in that dreadful
conflagration in which his hunting-box on the peaceful Wala River and
most of his diaries were destroyed. Dr. Richard Kandt, whilst on his
expeditions in search of the sources of the Nile, found the charred
remains of the hut. “Ubi sunt, qui ante nos in mundo fuere?”
25. C. G. Schillings, phot.
A SUCCESSFUL PHOTOGRAPH, TAKEN AFTER A LONG PURSUIT
AND MANY FAILURES.
26. C. G. Schillings, phot.
TELEPHOTO STUDIES OF GIRAFFES (GIRAFFA SCHILLINGSI,
Mtsch.).
Zoological experts tell us that there are several species of giraffe
inhabiting separate zoological regions. In the districts I traversed, I
came across an entirely new species.... Their life and habits interested
me beyond measure. I often think of them still—moving about like
phantoms among the thorny bushes, and in and out the sunlit woods,
or standing out silhouetted against the horizon.
Though by nature peaceful, the giraffe is not defenceless—a kick from
one of its immense legs, or a blow sideways with the great thick-
necked head of a bull, would be quite enough to kill a mere man. But
this gigantic beast, whose coat so much resembles that of the blood-
thirsty tiger, leopard, and jaguar, never attacks, and only brings its
forces into play for purposes of defence. It harms no man, and it has
lived on the velt since time immemorial. It is the more to be deplored,
therefore, that it should disappear now so quickly and so suddenly.
27. I have already remarked several times on the way giraffes and other
African mammals harmonise in their colouring with their environment.
Professor V. Schmeil has pointed out how my opinion in this respect
accords with that of earlier observers.14
The way in which giraffes
mingle with their surroundings as regards not only their colour but
also their form, is especially astonishing. The illustration on page 550
proves this in a striking manner, for it shows how the outlines of the
giraffe correspond exactly with those of the tree close to it.
One may spend days and weeks on the velt trying to get near giraffes
without result. Far away on the horizon you descry the gigantic
“Twigga”—as the Waswahili call it—but every attempt to approach is
in vain. Then, all of a sudden it may happen—as it did once to me
near the Western Njiri marshes, Nov. 29, 1898—that a herd of giraffes
passes quite near you without fear. On the occasion in question, as is
so often the case, I had not my photographic apparatus at hand. I
could have got some excellent pictures with quite an ordinary camera.
The giraffes came towards me until within sixty paces. They then
suddenly took wildly to flight. The little herd consisted of nine head:
an old very dark-spotted bull, a light-spotted cow, three younger cows
with a calf each, and finally a young dark-spotted bull. Orgeich and I
had been able to observe the animals quietly as they stood, as if
rooted to the spot, with their long necks craned forward, their eyes
fixed upon us.15
I cannot explain why the animals were so fearless on
that occasion. It was a most unusual occurrence, for ordinarily giraffes
manage to give the sportsman a wide berth.
Again, it may happen, especially about midday, that the hunter will
sight a single giraffe or a whole herd at no very great distance. At
these times, if one is endowed with good lungs and is in training, one
may get close enough to the creatures before they take to flight.
28. Hauptmann Merker, phot.
GIRAFFE STUDIES.
C. G. Schillings, phot.
GIRAFFE STUDIES.
Or it may happen that you will sight giraffes about noontide sheltering
under the fragrant acacia trees. I remember one occasion especially,
in the neighbourhood of the Gelei volcanic hills. I had hardly
29. penetrated for more than about a hundred and twenty paces into an
acacia wood, when I suddenly saw the legs of several gigantic giraffes
—their heads were hidden in the crowns of mimosa. The wind was
favourable. I might within a few minutes find myself in the middle of
the herd! But, a moment later, I felt the ground tremble and the huge
beasts with their hard hoofs were thumping over the sun-baked
ground. They crashed through the branches and fled to the next
shelter of mimosa trees. Although I might easily have killed some of
them, it was absolutely impossible to take a photograph. But I was at
times more fortunate in snapshotting single specimens. Carefully and
cautiously, I would creep forward, of course alone, leaving my people
behind, until I came within about twenty paces of the giraffe. By
dodging about the trees or shrubs near which it stood I have
sometimes managed to obtain good pictures of the animal making off
in its queer way. The utmost caution was necessary. I had to consider
not only the place where the animal was but the position of the sun,
and that most carefully. The possibility of photographing giraffes with
the telephoto lens is very slight indeed. One’s opportunities are turned
to best account by the skilful use of an ordinary hand-camera.
In this way, also, I managed to get pictures of the peculiar motion of
giraffes in full flight. My negatives are a proof of the comparative ease
with which native hunters may hunt giraffes with poisoned arrows. I
have often met natives in possession of freshly killed giraffe flesh.
In most cases bushes and trees are a great hindrance to the taking of
photographs, especially of large herds. At such times it was as good
as a game of chess between the photographic sportsman and the
animals. For hours I have followed them with a camera ready to
snapshot, but the far-sighted beasts have always frustrated my plans.
Thus passed hours, days and weeks. But good luck would come back
again, and I was sometimes able to develop an excellent negative in a
camp swarming with mosquitoes.
It is especially in the peculiar light attendant on the rainy season and
amidst tall growths that giraffes mingle so with their surroundings. It
is only when the towering forms are silhouetted against the sky that
30. they can be clearly seen on the open velt. At midday, when the velt is
shimmering with a thousand waves of light, when everything seems
aglow with the dazzling sun, even the most practised eye can scarcely
distinguish the outlines of single objects. By such a light the sandy-
coloured oryx antelopes and the stag-like waterbuck look coal-black;
the uninitiated take zebras for donkeys—they appear so grey—and
rhinoceroses resting on the velt for ant-hills. But giraffes especially
mingle with the surrounding mimosa woods at this hour in such a way
as only those who have seen it could believe possible.
When you see these animals in their wild state, your thoughts
naturally revert to the penned-up tame specimens in zoological
gardens or those preserved in museums. Well do I remember that
the first wild zebra I saw looked to me little like a tame specimen in a
zoological garden.
C. G. Schillings, phot.
A HERD OF GIRAFFES: THE LEADER, A POWERFUL OLD BULL, IN
THE FOREGROUND.
31. C. G. Schillings, phot.
TWO GIRAFFES OUT OF A HERD I CAME UPON IN THE VICINITY OF
THE MASAI COLONY CALLED KIRARAGUA, NOW ALMOST BEREFT
OF WILD LIFE OWING TO THE IMMIGRATION OF THE BOERS. THE
ANIMALS MAY HERE BE SEEN IN VERY CHARACTERISTIC
SURROUNDINGS, ACACIA WOODS ALTERNATING WITH WIDE
EXPANSES COVERED WITH BOWSTRING HEMP.
32. C. G. Schillings, phot.
HEAD OF A GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA RETICULATA De Winton), KILLED IN
SOUTH SOMALILAND BY THE EXPLORER CARLO VON ERLANGER.
(BY KIND PERMISSION OF THE BARONESS VON ERLANGER.)
The death-knell of the giraffe has tolled. This wonderful and harmless
animal16
is being completely annihilated! Fate has decreed that a
somewhat near relative should be discovered in later days—namely
the Okapi, which inhabits the Central African forests. It may be safely
asserted that these unique animals will exist long after the complete
extermination of the real giraffe. The species of giraffe, however,
which has been dying out in the north and south of the African
continent will be represented in the future by pictures within every
man’s reach. Every observation as to their habits, every correct
33. representation obtained, every specimen preserved for exhibition is of
real value. And this I would impress on every intelligent man who has
the opportunity of doing any of these things out in the wild.
Professor Fritsch saw giraffes in South Africa as late as 1863. Shortly
before these lines were printed he gave a glowing account of the
impression they then made on him, an impression which was renewed
when he saw my pictures.
Large herds of giraffes still flourish in remote districts. My friend Carlo
von Erlanger, whose early death is much to be regretted, found the
animals particularly timid in South Somaliland when he traversed it for
the first time. A fine stuffed specimen of these beautifully coloured
giraffes is to be found in the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfort-on-
Maine. An illustration gives the head of a giraffe killed by my late
friend, and proves to the reader how much the two species differ—
namely the South Somaliland giraffe as here depicted,17
and that
which I was the first to discover in Masailand. We have in Erlanger’s
diary and in this illustration the only existing information about the
presence of the giraffe in South Somaliland, a region which none but
my daring friend and his companions have so far traversed.
Hilgert, Carlo von Erlanger’s companion, mentions the frequent
presence of the South Somali giraffe, but says that they showed
themselves so shy that the members of the expedition generally had
to content themselves with the numerous tracks of the animals or
with the sight of them in the far distance.
Meanwhile an effort is being made to save and protect what remains
of the giraffe species in Africa. But there is little hope of ultimate
success. I do trust, however, that a wealth of observations,
illustrations, and specimens may be secured for our museums before
it is too late. In this way, at least, a source of pleasure and
information will be provided for future generations, and the giraffe will
not share the fate of so many other rare creatures which no gold will
ever give back to us.
34. With sad, melancholy, wondering eyes the giraffe seems to peer into
the world of the present, where there is room for it no longer.
Whoever has seen the expression in those eyes, an expression which
has been immortalised by poets in song and ballad for thousands of
years, will not easily forget it, any more than he will forget the strong
impression made on him when he looked at the “Serafa” of the Arabs
in the wilderness.
Hauptmann, Merker phot.
GIRAFFE STUDY.
35. C. G. Schillings, phot.
A TELEPHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT A DISTANCE OF 200 PACES.
36. C. G. Schillings, phot.
GIRAFFA SCHILLINGSI, Mtsch.
The day cannot be far distant when the beautiful eyes of the last
“Twigga” will close for ever in the desert. No human skill will be able
to prevent this, in spite of the progress of human knowledge and
human technique. The giraffe can never enter the little circle of
domesticated animals. Therefore it must go. Perhaps its eyes will
close in the midst of the Elelescho jungle, thus lessening still further
the fascination of that survival from the youth of the world.
38. A
HUNGRY VULTURES IN THE VICINITY OF MY CAMP.
XIV
Camping out on the Velt
MONG the happiest days of my life I reckon those which I spent
camping out in the heart of the Nyíka.
Nearly every hour there had something fresh to arouse my interest,
not only in the life of the wild animals that roamed at large all about,
but also in that of the specimens which I had caught or my men had
brought to me, and whose habits and ways I could observe within the
enclosure of the camp. Of course our unique menagerie could not
boast members of all the most attractive species of the African fauna,
but it included some very rare and interesting animals which Europe
39. has never seen. To know these one must go and live in wildest Africa
and see them at home.
C. G. Schillings, phot.
PITCHING CAMP WITH A VIEW TO A LONG STAY.
My camp at times was like a little kingdom. Many of my people went
out for weeks together to barter for fruits and vegetables with
agrarian tribes. With the rest, I spent my days out in the open,
hunting, collecting, and observing. My zoological collection increased
daily, time flew by with all the many jobs there were to be done—
drying, preserving, preparing, sorting, labelling, and sending off
specimens. The primitive camp life was full of interest in spite of its
seeming monotony. It was like ruling and ordering a little State. I
thoroughly enjoyed this simple existence, in which I seemed to forget
the artificial worries of civilisation and to be able to give myself up to
my love for nature.
40. MY TAXIDERMIST, ORGEICH, AT WORK.
Then I learned to appreciate the natives. Of course they are not to be
judged from a European standpoint as regards habits and customs,
but I shall always remember with pleasure certain strong and good
characters among my followers.
Nomadic hunters—shy and suspicious as the animals they hunted—
sometimes paid us passing visits, whilst the whole world of beasts and
birds thronged around our “outpost of civilisation,” so suddenly
planted in their midst.
My goods and chattels were stowed away in a hut which I had put up
myself, and which was protected from wind, rain, and sun by masses
of reeds and velt grasses. This hut was of the simplest construction,
but I was very proud of it. It was useful not only for protecting
zoological collections from the all-pervading rays of the sun, and from
rain and cold, but also from the numerous little fiends of insects
against which continual warfare has to be waged. The destructive
activity of ants is a constant source of annoyance to travellers and
41. collectors; I remember how my one-time fellow-traveller Prince
Johannes Löwenstein had the flag on his tent destroyed by them in a
single night. In one night also these ants bit through the ticket-
threads by which my specimens were classified; in one night, again,
the tiny fiends destroyed the bottoms of several trunks which had
been carelessly put away!
One has to wage constant warfare against destroyers of every kind.
My cow, which was very valuable to me, not only as giving milk to my
people, but also for nourishing young wild animals, was penned at
night-time within a thick thorn hedge. My people made themselves
more or less skilfully constructed shelters under the bushes and trees.
Thus a miniature village grew up, of which I was the despotic ruler.
The native hunters who visited us would sometimes accompany me
on long expeditions.
C. G. Schillings, phot.
TERMITEN ANT-HILLS.
42. For me there are no “savages.” When an intelligent man comes across
a tribe hitherto unknown to him he will carefully study their seemingly
strange habits, and thus will soon recognise that they have their own
customs and laws which they regard as sacred and immutable, and
which order their whole existence. He will no longer desire the natives
to adopt the manners and customs of the white man, for which they
are absolutely unsuited.
But by the time I got friendly with these nomads they were off again.
It is against their habits to stay long in one place, and they do not
willingly enter into close relations with a European—or indeed with
any one. Suddenly one fine morning we find their sleeping quarters
empty; they have disappeared, never to return. No obligation, no
command, would ever bind these wanderers to one place. Children of
the moment, children of the wilderness, their lives are spent in
constant roaming.
I hardly ever had a leisure hour, for there was much to arrange and
see to in my camp. I had many functions to perform. I was my own
commissioner of public safety; I looked after the commissariat; I was
doctor and judge. I supervised all the other offices and pursued a
number of handicrafts. Like Hans Sach I followed with pride the
avocations of shoemaker, tailor, joiner, and smith, my very scanty
acquaintance with all these various trades being put to astonishingly
good use. I was like the one-eyed man among the blind.
What judgments of Solomon have I not given! Once two of my best
people quarrelled, an Askari and his wife. The serious character of the
quarrel could be estimated from the noise of weeping and the sound
of blows that had proceeded from their tent. The man wished to
separate from his wife.
“Why did you beat your wife last night?”
The Askari (who has served under both German and English masters)
stands to attention.
43. “Because she was badly behaved—I will not keep her any more—I am
sending her away.”
“But why—rafiki yangu?—my friend? Such things will happen at times,
but it is not always so bad—see? Who will look after you? who will
prepare your meals? Look at her once more; she is very pretty—don’t
you think so? And she cooks very well” (both parties, as well as the
bystanders, are smiling by now). “Go along, then, and make friends.”
And they go and make friends.
A deputation of the Waparis come to the camp. They crouch down
near my tent and beg for a “rain charm” to bring down showers upon
their fields. It is somewhat difficult to help them. I take the gifts
which they bring to pay for the charm and make them a more
valuable return, and by means of the barometer I am able to foretell
rain. They gaze at the wizard and his charm wonderingly, and come
again later to see them both.