The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-23

delayed, and for agricultural purPoses
more definite statistics are desirable. There
have been In tho past considerable famines
one in 1882 and another in 1927; but II
seems that tho drought was only partial
and that food was always obtainable In
abundance near Lake Victoria and Mount
Kenya. Were a famine like that Of 1897
TO recur now, II may be hoped that, with the
facilities Of transport afforded by the
railway running from Aombasa 10 Lake
Victoria, there would be little or no loss
Of life,
"
It would seam, then, that as far a. eli
mate, temperature and rainfall are CON
cerned the East Africa Protectorate u
suitable for European residents. II also
yields plentifully the articles which Euro
peans require for their slstenanco and
comfort. Meat, milk and butter arc cheap
and excellent. Our author compares the
mutton with that Of Wales. Fowls, though
common at the coast, are neither nu-
merous nor stout up-country, but sir
Charles Eliot can see no reason why the
deficiency should not be remedied by the In
PRODUCTION on a large scale Of such foreign
birds a. have been found to thrive. Ex-
cept in Lake Victoria, the fresh water bsh,
though abundant. are Of only mediocre
quality, being small and bony. Large and
good hsh, however, can be obtained at
Misumu, on an arm Of Lake Victoria, and
the sea fish at Mombasa n admirable.
With little organization there ought 70
DO no difficulty In delivering both by rail
at Nairohi in the highlands The soil =
80 well adapted TO European vegetables,
particularly potatoes, that IL has been hoped
that they will figure among the staple eK-
ports Of the ProteCtorRts- European fruit,
especially apples, apricots and pearH, b
grown with success 1t appears, how
ever that the varieties which thrive best
are those which are not imported directly
from Europe, but have been previously
aoolima6aed in non European temperate
countries, such as TaEmRnia and Japan
Such being the climate and produce OF ths
country, tho assertion win no longer sound
incredible that European children can be
reared thGre without danger or difficulty.
Our author testihes that the number OF
fat, rosy infants 20 be encountered IN an
afternoons walk at Eairoh is surprising.
and though his personal eIperienoe OF
Nairobi az a residence for Europeans vas
rather short il extended in the case OF
Machakos TO nearly fifteen years.
It may be asked: How does it tappons
II the highlands Of East Africa arc really
healthful and fertile country. that they have
been hitherto scantily populated, miserabfy
cultivated and almost totally unproductive1
Sir Charles Eliots answer is that until re-
comfy these highlands we're practically
clofed to all bh African abonGinas, as
neither the Arabs nor the Portuguese could
advance inward from The coast Tho ma
tive African tends 10 frequent hot, low,
u1uriant regions, like the shores Of Laks
Victoria; he can stand the climate, and
finds there more easily the plants or ami
mAls from which he suhststs. Not only
we're the higher regions less attractive TO
the native, but many causes tended 70 de-
populate them. They were speedily acces-
sibIe to the slave raidarS; they were deyas-
tated by interiribal wars and raids; the want
Of communications turned local drought
into disastrous famine; there were no means
OF preventing or arresting the spread OF
epidemic The introduction Of little civil
cation must no doubt change an these con-
ditions: stiIl II must be remembered that in
Africa the forces Of nature are powerful.
and though they can be conciliAted they
cannot safely be dehed or neglected.
Before leaving the subject Of health.
our author has a word to say about two
epidemic3 which have visited the East
Africa Protectorate The plague and
the sleeping sickness. The Sppea rance
Of the plague at Nairobi in iOOQ was q
perpleIing phenomenon that has given
rise 10 considerable medical discussion. in
asmuch as no cases occurred at hombNA
OF elsewhere on the coast. Il would seem,
however, that the outbreak was due TO the
introduction Of ordinary bubonio plague
from India. and not to the presence In
Ukamba OF the endemic variety Of the
difease which is said TO exist to the west Of
Lake Victoria and In German territory.
Al that time there were a large number Of
coolies working for the Uganda Railway
who had been allowed TO congregate IN
crowded and III kept quarters. and the
plague was probably Introduced among
them in a consignment Of infected foods
from India. Heroic MEASURES OF disin-
lection. including the destruction Of q great
part Of the town. were adopted, and the dis
ease was entirely stamped out, after sixty
three cases and nineteen deaths had oc-
currdd. No Europeans were attached, and
the outbreak may DO regarded as an iso-
lated incident, having no bearing on the
general health cond lions OF the highlands
in the Protectorate.
The sleeping sickness l. Acknowledged
10 be a far nore serious and permanent
phenomenon, though II need not oooasion
the least alarm to any Europeans who may
be thinking Of settling in tho highlands
Of Fast Africa, since 1t Is cunhnedto Uganda
and the Kavirondo country on the uttoral
Of Lake Victoria. Az this latter district
Is divided from the rest Of East Africa by
the cold and uninhAbited MAu oscarpment,
the infected area r. absolutely Isolated,
for natives are practically unable 70 cruas
the mountains, eTcspt by the railway,
where they can be examined Besides,
the people Of KAvirondo have no relations
With the upland provinces ON the - 1t, and
no motive for visiting them. Il used to be
said that the victims Of the sleeping dis
ease did nothing but sloep or est until
they died. but, according TO Sir Charles