The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09
NEWS OF TROPICAL AFRICA.
High Regions where white Settlers May
Live and Thrive.

Major A. st. H. Gibbons OF England
was here at the Geographical Congress the
other day, having returned from his latest
explorations In Africa, with a record OF
some OF the best work that has been done
there for years.
On the upper Zambesi River Is henative
kingdom Of Marotseland, whose remarkable
ruler, Iewanika, has widened its borders
during his thirty years In power till 1t Is
about as large as Great Britain and France
together. Its powerful ruler, who attracted
much attention In England when he went
there to attend the coronation of hing
Edward, is now completely under British
influence and is very DESTROYS that his
people shall advance in the ways Of
civilization.
His country was comparatively little
known. The task which Gibbons set for
himself and his assistants in his two series
Of exploration was to cross this land in
all directions for the purpose Of making a
good map Of it and studying its resources
and peoples He has done this with great
care and labor and has made valuable
contribution to our knowledge Of Africa.
The explorer believes that there are large
parts OF the high regions Of tropical Africa
WHICH are W6u dhhptCu toi oSSuloA ~
the white races. This opinion Is worth
noting, as 1t comes from man who is
conservative and careful In his statements
In all his African work. extending over
some years, he has lived chiefly on the
high plateaus Of the Interior within the
tropics. He has never had touch OF
African fever. and in spite OF the hard
ships Of pioneering his health has been as
good, or better, in Africa than In England.
For one thing, he has escaped the colds to
which the people Of the temperate ATTITUDES
are 80 liable.
There are three regions in tropical
Africa which strike Major Gibbons as
Offering the best prospects for European
settlement. One OF them is the large
plateau OF Marotseland, where the surface
rises from $500 to 5000 feet above the level
Of the sea, and is capable Of growing many
useful products on an extensive scale. 4
| considerable variety OF cereals do well
there AZ well a. many fruits. cotton, sugar
and In the lower lands. rubber Cattle do
better In that country than in any other
part OF Africa within his experience, and
Africa, for he has travelled through 1t
| from Cape Town to the Mediterranean.
An equally good region is the higher
pIateaus Of Uganda to the north OF VIC
toria Nyanza, where, Major GIBBONS says
wheat growing on large scale may ne
developed. He sees no reason why wheat
NAV not ultimately be sent with profit to
England, although the country is far away.
When a lock and weir are put IN Lne ME-
below the Dufle Rapids there viii De no
bar to navigation between the Aloert
But the finest region OF all is one to which
little attention has yet been drawn. IL is
among the highlands OF Ruanda. north OF
Lake Tanganyika,, which ne. ne says t Is t ne
most healthful and promising country ne
has seen in inner Africa.
The country rises to 5000 and nearly
5000 feet above sea level. IL is noun
famous region with no end OF plantations
and well titled fields OF grain. sweet pota-
Gibbons says that the people are far above
the average African tribe in agricultural
attainment, and their fields have consid-
cradle resemblance TO those OF southern
Europe.
fist, told him that fever germs and
dysentery find no place among the high
lands OF Ruanda. Major Gibbons adds
that the country is refreshing feast Tor
the eve. The widespread pastures are
very green, native villages are dotted over
them and the lowing OF the cattle and the
bleating OF sheep and goats give quite
pastoral note. M,
The mountains around are 5000 to 49, 600
mountains and farming lands is the beauti
full Lake Kivo, whose surface is $500 feet
above the sea-
Il Is therefore bv far the highest OF all
the great African lakes. Kivo has another
unioue claim to distinction. 1t Is the only
sheet OF water among the tropical African
lakes which contains neither crocodiles
nor hippopotami. No reason is known
for this unless it is because there are no
reeds or rushes growing around the shores,
az the waves in windy weather prevent
vegetation from springng up. The. Afr-
can reeds and PUSHES are the natural haunt
Of the crocodile and the favorite food Of
the hippopotamus and they cannot get them
in Kivo. This lake was the last Of the
Central African lakes to be discovered.
Major Gibbons says that considering
their beauty and the richness Of the soil
there Is little doubt that when the facili;;
ties OF railroad communication are offered
the settlement Of the country on an extern
iQtn vvII