The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-29

TIE wilderness where Arabs followed ths
slave chase IS being turned into a gar
den: and the secret OF this rsmar kahls
transformation Is that the ursla-,Gs OF
Lake Nyassa are high above the ocean
level. NyaSsalaTd may be. called one Of
the lirtie isiarAs that are lifted high
above the SEA CT utasrna which over
spreads nearly the whole OF tropical
Africa
So among these elevated valleys and
mountains south Of Lake Nyassa the
white man IS turning the riches OF IA
ture 10 good account. and IS having a %
tent and q beneficial influence upon the
natives who thirty years ago had never
seen q white man. Mr.. II. II Johnston.
her ma5escy's commissioner in British
Central Africa, has just told the story OF
this development 20 the Royal GsoSraph-
fcal Society. and here are some OF the in
teresting facts he gave.
The Official name OF this region IS the
British Central Africa Protect rate. Il
was only four years ago that European
planters began 20 hear that there was a
chance 10 make money in this new do
main by raising coffee. At that time the
total white population was only fifty
seven. Today II is nearly 400 The trade
q the country in the past year has sx-
ceeded a half million dollars. Four years
ago there were on Lake NyasSa and the
rivers only eight British steamers. While
today seventeen steamers and 10 barges
or sailing vessels are plying these wa
tiers. Four years ago Europeans were
eultivating about loo acres. while the
area under crops has now been increased
TO more than $500 acres. Over 3 90 GO
coffee plants are now growing. and when
they all come into bearing. as they VIII
before long. there will be ample freight
for the railroad which is 20 be built
around the sixty miles OF rapids in the
Shire river. When this road IS COM
pleted freight may be taken by steam
from the north end OF Lake Nyassa 10
the Zambesi and the ocean vessels which
VIII await IL IN the Chinde branch of the
delta
Agricultural land four years ago was
selling for from one cent TO six cents an
acre. Today uninproved land ranges IN
price from . cents TO $50 an acre. and
in a number OF the seven OF eight Euro
pean settlements lots are sold at from
500 10 81 600 apiece.
About four-fifths OF the land surface is
from 900 10 200 feet above the sea. The
immediate result OF this elevation is a
much cooler climate than Is found in
most parts of Central Africa. IL is a
well watered country. with many peren-
NAL streams. and the water In almost all
places Is wholesome to drink.
Those who have read Livingstone's de-
scription of this wilderness when he first
made II known 10 the world viii be
struck by the amazing contrast which
Blantyre and the other European settle
ments present today. In these towns are
clean, broad. level roads, bordered by
handsome avenues of trees, and comedy
red brick house,, with rose-colored YER
andas peeping eat behind clumps of or
namentaI shrubs. The natives who pass
along are clothed in white calico. A bell
rings to call the children 20 school. The
planter gallops past on horseback. or a
missionary trots In on a white donkey
from visit TO an outlying station. Long
rows Of native carriers pass in Indian
file, carrying loads of European goods. or
a smarT-looking policeman in black fez,
black jacket and trousers marches off on
some errand.
Native bricklayers and carpenters are
building houses IN the European style.
Through the open door OF the printing
office natives may be seen setting type
for the little newspaper that appears
every week. The visitor will see a post
Office. a court of Justice. and perheaps
prison, whose occupants. however. dur
ing the working hours are out repairing
the roads under charge of a black police
man. On the outskirts of the town are
brickyards, where the natives turn out
tn0nSAIl1S OF Dfick as wen Dlduc as tHooe
used in our own building operations.
The most interesting feature in the
neighborhood of these settlements. how
ever is the coffee plantations. which are
the chief cause and support of the pros
perity of Nyassalsnd. The first and big
gest planter, MI Buchanan, raised last
season a crop that was valued at $35. 600
Sixteen years ago a small coffee plant
was sent from the Edinburgh Botanical
Gardens to Blantyre, and from this
plant the greater part OF the 100000 cof-
fee trees now growing are descended. The
mother tree Is still alive In the mission
grounds at Blantyre. The climate and
soil OF Nyassalend seem 10 suit the cof-
fee tree to perfection, and the crops are
unusually large.
One strong inducement TO plant coffee
here is the abundance and cheapness Of
native labor The planters are now able
10 secure an enormous supply OF labor
from tribes that are scattered far and
wide around. Natives travel on foot sew
eral hundred miles TO get work on the
European plantations They know they
will he we'll treated. well paid. and that
they may return in safety to their homes
with the wages they have earned, be-
cause the government has put an end 10
the murderous business OF the slave
catcher who used 10 lie in wait for I'M
wary natives. The increase In the native
population of the protectorate has been
remarkable In the southern part OF the
district 10.eo0 people are now living,
where there were only about 900 in 1891.
IN the northern half the native popuia-
ton has almost doubled by immigration
in four years. II Is believed that before
long this region will become one of the
most densely peopled portions OF the con-
tinent and with plenty OF black men TO
tin the soil the white settlers Will be
~. los
all tho most valuable crops of the tenn
perate and tropical regions. They are al
ready raising nearly enough wheat for
their own needs.