New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-23

The protectorate OF Nyasaland is not very
large or. comparatively speaking. very impor-
tant division Of British Central Africa The au-
thor hazards the guess that not thousand
families 81 Great Britain have any direct inter
est in il. His entertaining and suggestive vol
ume, however, should serve TO make the country
interesting TO a much wider circle. The regret
which he expresses that he entered upon his
work without any previous training in habits Of
accurate observation may be shared by the pro-
fessonal naturalist and ethnologist, but the
layman will readily and perhaps thankfully for
give the resultant omission Of generally unintel-
ngible scientific data.
The protectorate was established as late as
1886, for the purpose Of conserving the interests
OF a few British traders and sellers. and is con-
Quoted on the lines Of government by European
officials through native chiefs. Mr.. Duff consid-
ers this method, by reason of its simplicity and
directness the one best suited TO the needs of
British Central Africa and of other dependen-
cies Ia parallel stage OF development" Those
who read of the results attained by this system
in the region to the west and south of Lake
Nyasa will be inclined TO agree with him. His
conclusions should he suggestive TO other nations
imbued with the colonizing spirit.
The native African. through natural develop
ment. has advanced from the family to the vii
iage, and SO TO the tribal organization. Oddly
feet OF European interference is not SO much to
advance the native TO a higher or national or
ganization as II is to substitute the authority
OF the white man for that of the tribal chief,
who, like Othello. finds his occupation gone and
his influence restricted to the village where he
lives. This step backward I'm development, how
ever is likely to be only temporary. With the
coming OF the white the necessity OF the
tribal organization for defensive purposes ceases
TO exist. Peace is maintained. with peace must
come a gradual community of interest, and the
native is really being helped TO short cut to
that higher stage of national development that
otherwise could have been achieved only through
an indefinite series of bloody wars and con-
Guests 1t took but five years. from 1891 To
1896 for the British to establish their SUI
premacy TO subdue the Arab slave raiders and
10 drive out the robber bands that harried the
district. In return for these benefits the native
tribes render a ready allegiance to their present
masters.
OF the natives themselves, Mr.. Duff found
their cheerfulness their most striking we'll
as their most pleasing characteristic. This is
perhaps only what might be looked for in
people inhabiting a fertile and sunny land,
where food is procured with little effort; while
the very uncertainty of their lives, until recently
the imminent danger of being raided and killed,
IN them q reckless disregard for the future and
a strong. joyous concentration in the pleasures
OF the present. But the conditions which make
for their more agreeable traits are. unfortunate
ly, those which most stand in the way OF their
rapid progress to civilization. Mr.. Duff writes
with a keen sense Of responsibility on this point
and his observations on the negro in his orig
inal state show much common sense:
For the most part. the Central African negro Of
gher orders OF beasts by any quality OF the heart
,;,, Is "a exnecr from him er present ntle more
han might be expected from intelligent animal
that. while Tie animal is Incapable Of further i'm
proyement. the savage has probably within him
some latent germ of human excellence the develop
ment Of which depends largely upon the treatment
he one hand as a hopeless brute because his pres
snt nature is british because he SHOWS no desire
faculties are eetSeYS y as 1Rlst b aa bis pea
to let him act for himself in matters which he IS
Incapable Of oomprehendinG, or generally TO ADMIT
powers Which Should be reserved to civilized and
dominant castles
The capability Of the negro for development
is shown to be greater than the foregoing quo
tation taken by itself might lead the reader who
is unfamiliar with the progress of the race
under favorable conditions in the United States
to believe. He says later:
In different trades and crafts natives rapidly
tain. under European supervision. TO certain skill,
notably as carpenters gardeners. bricklayers print
some of them make excellent domestic servants
Many are employed as clerks in the various SOW
eminent departments and comm ereial Offices, as
overseers the estates of coffee planters, pilots
on the gUnbOats and trading steamers and in
many other capacities calling for come mount Of
intelligence As soldiers they are cially sr art.
and probably drill as well as any native troops in
the world
A paradise for big game hunters is Nyasa-
land, aTording probably the finest sport obtain
able in Africa to-day. This is owing TO the fact
that there is a natural close season, when hunt
Ing is impossible while the European population
is still small and scattered Waterfowl is
abundant on the lakes, and there is excellent
fishing. Sportsmen will find much to interest
them in Mr.. Ducf's experiences, and some helpful
suggestions to the best methods of procedure
With regard 10 the selection of travelling and
camp gear, considerable should be taken II
IS easy 10 inculee IN picturesque rodomontade
about the charms Of 'rOughing it, and the lin
ited requirements OF man in his natural cond-
ton, as some people are went to do who know
nothing of life In wild countries The twentieth
century European does not revert so easily 10 The
simplicity OF the savage. and he will find that the
discomfort and danger OF the bush and Jungle are
without being accumulated by his neglect
:, ] have noticed again and again that it is
selves most cornfortabl and who the last TO
run avoi0able risks.
Labor is so Cheap few shillings month
thet there is no reason why the hunter should
not carry with him. in addition to his tent the
waterproof ground cloth. the bedstead and mos
quito bar. the folding table, the upright chair
eno the reclining one. the lamp. the books even,
and the writing materials which will make his
portable home cosy and cheerful.
a ID n