The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-02
WHITE COLONISTS GOING TO
TROPICAL AFRICA.


White farmers from Europe are emi8rat-
ing to British East Africa and are settling
almost exactly under the equator. This
information Is given In the Handbook for
East Africa, Uganda and Zanzibar for
1904, published by the Government OF Brit
ish East Africa at Mombasa, the port and
chief town OF the proteotorate. The names
OF the immigrants are printed In the hand
book. and there are several hundred OF
them.
1t will be remembered that Sir Charles
N. e. Eliot, Commissioner Of the Protec-
torate. resigned his Office few months ago
because the British Government had ar
ranged without his knowledge to introduce
a large number Of Jewish farmers into the
same region. That project has not yet
been carried out.
The region first opened to foreign settls-
ment is Kkuyu. just south Of Mount Kcnia,
the second highest mountain In Africa,
through which the equator passes. It b
very fertile and well watored, and stands
from 5000 to 5000 feet above the sea, which
accounts for it's temperate climate. 'Eu-
ropean settlers,' says the handbook, ARE
taking up the unoocupied land more and
more, and one sees here and there European
farmsteads with rosy faced children, who
bear witness to the suitability Of the climate
for Europeans
The country produces all the cereals and
vegetables Of Europe and seems to be par
ticularly adapted for the white potato. OF
which over 600 tons were exported last year
by way OF the Uganda Railroad, many Of
them going to Natal and the TransvasI.
Five full trainloads we're sent to Johannes
burg.
The average rainfall Is forty inches q
year. and the average Temperature for the
cool season is GO degrees, and for the hot
weather, rs degrees. 1t was In this region
that the Kikuyu tribe violently opposed
the intrusion Of explorers, but they are now
on the best OF terms with the whites and
are supplying cheap labor. 1t Is estimated
that In this district there are ZOO, 900 acres
OF unoocupied lands fit for cultivation and
5000, 900 acres Of grazing lands. The ma
tive farms aggregate about SEQ 900 acres.
A survey department was created In April
last year to survey the land that Ia being
taken up by settlers. About 30, 900 acres had
been surveyed up to the end Of the year, but
the force was small and did not keep up
with the applications for land in the latter
half Of the year. One hundred and aixty
acres are allotted to the settler at two shil-
lings and eight pence per acre, and the pur-
chaser may spread the payment over six
teen years without interest. No specula-
ton is permitted, and the land 10 sold only
to actual settlers.
An agricultural society has been or
ganized at Nairobi, the middle point OF the
Uganda Railroad, to promote agriculture.
horticulture and stock raising. Fairs are
to be held at Nairobi. and at other agrioul-
tural centres when they develop, to show
all farm products and DISCUSS matters OF
common concern. The society Is combin-
ing all the agricultural interests so that all
may share in the economical importation OF
farm machinery, plants, seeds and animals.
Nairobi is already an important town with
thirty-four stores.
The handbook says that it Ia hoped soon
to place the protectorate on a self-support-
ing basis. Ten years ago there was no
trade worth mentioning in this region. The
imports in the last fiscal year amounted to
$2.2l5. 100 and the exports to S740soo, Nom
hasa has become one Of the leading ports
on the east coast The gross tonnage OF
steamships entering and clearing last year
WIS 4242l2, and Of Norwegian and Zanzi-
bar sailing vessels and dhows, 2o.57l.
This remarkable progress has been made
possible by the Uganda Railroad and the
large resources and prospects OF the more
healthful parts Of the country. Some Of
the rich, high plateaus that the railroad
crosses are still untouched. The highlands
between the Kikuyu plateau, now opening
to settlers, and Victoria Nyanza are at a
still greater elevation and all visitors say
they have a bright future when they are
finally opened to white enterprises.
Steam will soon bring 1t about Twenty
one years ago Joseph Thomson crossed
these plateaus, the first white man to trav-
erse the regions through which this rail-
road has been built. He was many months
on the way, but the railroad trains now
cover the distance to Victoria Nyanza in
forty hours, and the through journey Is
soon to be made in shorter time. The
maximum schedule speed Is twenty-five
one In tropical Africa on which trains are
run in the nighttime.
Many influences are potent in the work
Of transformation, Men Of science are
developing the natural resources prospeo-
tors are seeking with some success for
valuable minerals. settlers are culdvating
the rich soil of the highlands. and the work
OF ths missionary teachers has so impressed
some of the tribes that the natives them
selves have built their churches and schools
and are supporting them. The most san
guine did not dream twenty years ago that
to day would see this part Of Africa 20 well
started in the ways Of progress.