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

For the history Of the interior OF the region
compreFonded in the East Africa Protec-
tornte there are really no ma terials at all
except native tradit ons going back few
generations. and suoh speculations as 20
the movements Of the races as are suggested
by sBthTog ology and linguistic science.
The country about Lake Victoria Is one a
the most inacces 4ible in the world. On
the east the character Of the coast has acted
as a barrier; on the west stretch the vast
forests Of the Congo, which only in recent
years have been travers d; on the north
are the stony deserts OF Somaliland and the
tracts aroun Lake Rudolf while further
west extend the marshes Of the Southern
Sudan, which largely deprive the Niles
higher waters Of their value as a means OF
communication. On the south only is
there no natural obstacle to intercourse,
but here there neither is nor has been
civilization OF any known element likely
TO influence the character Of neighbor-
ing nations. Indeed whatever traces Of
superior civilization can be discovered in
the interior Of the region embraced 10y
the East Africa Prote ctorate seem to
indicate infltration from the north, either
by way Of the Nile, or through the Gallas
anu OOulhlAn WIZ AAtlA lNluNlbllE WIN hByH-
sinia aid perhaps WITH ARABIA. The
inhabitants Of equatorial Africa clearly
prefer the low and somewhat swampy
country around the great lakes. for the high
plateaus TO the east Of them are scantily
inhabited, II at ALL and have produced no
political organization which can be com
pared to the Kingdoms Of Uganda and
Unyoro. Yet, according 70 Sir Charles
Eliot the most important physical feature
OF East Africa is precisely this ridge Of
high country rising 70 as much as 10000
feet above the level Of the sea-not TO mem
ton the much superior altitude Of certain
peaks-a ridge that seems suited TO be the
residence Of European race,
The history Of the coast OF the East
Africa Prutecto rate Is a record of COM
plicated quanels. sometimes between differ
ent bodies Of Arabs, and some times between
Arabs and Portuguese. As far back es We
can 90 in Arabic annals this coast has been
subject to Arab influence, but the older
settlements, which were made before the
arrival Of the Portuguese, were quite dis
tinot from the later lordship acquired by
the ruler Of Oman and Aiaskat, and the
partial colonizationwhich It brought about.
When. the Portuguese arrived they found
on the coast a series Of Independent towns
pcopled by Ara bs, but not united 10 Arabia
by any political tie. Their relations with
these Arabs were mostly hostile but dur,
ing the sixteenth century they firmly es-
tabRshed their power, and ruled with the
aid OF tributary Arab Suitans. This system
lasted till 1891, when the vaGsal Sultan OF
Mombasa massacred the Europeans within
his dominions. During the brief remainder
Of their rule, the Portuguese appointed
Enru pean Governor, who seem 10 have
been distasteful 20 the natives, for they
invited tie Arabs OF Oman, who now APP
psar on the scene for the first time, 10 assist
them in driving out the foreigners. By
the end Of the seventeenth century the
Yoribi. who we've then the ruling family in
Oman, had succeeded in eXpellinE the
Portuguese from all their East African
settlements except Mozambique. The neal
power on the coast, however, nassed into
the hands Of an Arab amily called Mazrui
who, though at first merely governors and
representatives OF the Imam OF Oman, soon
became practically independent But at
the end OF tie eighteenth century the
dynasty Of Blu Saidi who had succeeded
tho Yoribi as rulers Of Oman, began TO
assert their rights over the East African
coast, and in 1882 Seyyid Said broke the
power OF the Mazrui, and transfe RED his
capital from Maskat 10 Zanzibar. which
then became the principal town OF East
Africa. AZ his death his dominions were
divided, and the Tuler Of the southern. or
African portion became Sultan Of Zan zitar
and Of the East African coast. That Is 10
say, the ruler Of Zanzibar Is commonly