The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-06-14
COlOnizing Africa.

Some of the English newspapers are tell
ing of an association for the purpose of
sendinga British colony to central Africa.
1t IL said that 5000 persons are already EN-
rolled rs members of the proposed colony.
The most Of tropical Africa can never be
the home Of the ordinary white colonist.
As the continent becomes better known,
However, it is found that certain elevated
regions really offer prospects of success for
roloni2ing enterprise. We find, too that
our ideas of the value of some parts Of
Africa have changed greatly, now that they
no longer depend upon the dictum of one
or two explorers.
When Montague Kerr who was the first
to cross Mashonuland completely, described
it in 1854, he secuted the idea of European
colonization and could not see how the
white race would be able to turn that re
gion to good account. Nine years later we
see 1900 white men, women and children
on those uplands, several towns, a newspa-
per, telegraphic communication with the
rest of the world, one railroad pushing
toward the district and two others pro
iected.
Joseph Thomson, one of the most con
servative as well as one of the greatest {
African explorers, never found until his
seemed to him adapted for white colonial
ton. This most cautious observer has now
returned to England enthusiastic over the
prospects Of the elevated plateau west Of
Lake Nyassa. lie describes the climate as
temperate, which is due to the general ele
walton of 1900 feet above the sea. "Blan-
tyre, south of Nyassa," he says, has been
amply proved to be place where no Euro
pean need be afraid to settle, and yet I'M
doubtedly the plateau lands westward are
still more healthy. There are no malaria
breeding grounds, drainage is excellent, and
pure water is to be found everywhere"
Almost under the equator, on the line of
the proposed railroad to Victoria Nyanza is
large area of fertile land browning one OF
the loftiest plateaus of Africa. In this
region, at an elevation of 1000 to 5000 feet
above the sea, Captain Lugard and other
travellers are sanguine that the experiment
of white colonization may succeed.
1t is well known that the Italian port Of
Massowa, on the Red sea, is one Of Tie
hottest places in Africa. Bat King Hum
berts government is now taking steps 10
place italian farmers not more than lG0
miles inland on the rich lands of Eeren.
among the highlands of northern Abyssinia.
Greeks are living there now in excellent
health, and it seems to be settled beyond
doubt that south Europeans may thrive in
this desirable region.
II is said that when the comforts of life
are multiplied in Mashonaland that region
will be as safe a place of residence as Cape
Colony or Natal In Matabeleland, a little
farther west. Englishmen have lived for -
years without once visiting Europe for Their
health. Their children born in the coun
try have grown to adult age, married and
settled, knowing no other home than Afri-
ca. They live within the tropics, but the
high elevation of most South Africa eX-
tends far toward the equator the regions
where white men may live and thrive.
Most of the Congo basin is destined to at
tract only those white men who are re-
qured to superintend enterprises there and
who will go north every few years for re-
cuperation. The many white men now on
the Congo say, however that as the con
veniences of living increase residence there
Will be no more unsafe or uncomfortable
than it is for north Europeans in India.
Five years ago no one could truthfully
have asserted that we knew of any part of
tropical Africa where white colonization
was practicable. 1t is now quite certain,
however, that some limited areas are well
adapted to be the homes of considerable
white population.-NelC York Sun.