The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-26
c0LONIsTs Nv TROPICAL AFRIcA.

Inc government Oh 1eTiIldI Ehbv hiiiN"'
having decided to open a small part OF that
country to colonization. has issued a cir
cular of information for the use of white
persons who may wish to make new homes
there. The region embraces the IN
jaro province, adjoining British East Africa.
The great snow covered mountain OF that
name stands on the frontier about 200 miles
south Of the Equator, overlooking these
rich plains where pioneers are now Tree 10
plant their crops or tend their herds. Ihe
surface of this plateau is some 1000 to 1000
feet above sea level and the tropical heat
is 50 tempered by the altitude that white
men may live there in good health.
This is the southern part Of the old stamp
ing ground of the Nasal nomads, whose
evil fame kept explorers out Of their country
until about twenty-five years ago. Twenty
three years ago DR.. g. A. Fischer reported
that this wide stretching plain was well
adapted for European settlement. The
climate, he wrote, was not too hot, and part
Of the region was watered by a network
Of small rivers. Later Investigations have
proved this to be true.
1t is an untamed wilderness for all
that, and Germany holds out no glitterlng
inducements. Colonists are told that they
will enter this new and ~undeveloped field
upon their own responsibility. They must
be well, strong and temperate, and have
the moral courage to endure bravely the
privations that are inseparable from pio-
neer life. There is little prospect OF ac-
quiring wealth, but nature is not unkind,
and the diligent man may make himself a
home and become independent. The rail-
road from Tanga will carry the immigrants
to within seventy-five to $50 miles OF their
future home, and some day it will be ex-
tended through the country.
This is encouraging, but the cost seems
a little excessive. The colonist, says the
circular. should have a capital Of at least
$1,000, though If he is from South Africa
and understands African conditions he may
get along with a little less. Married men
are most desirable, and they should bring
their wives as soon as they have built a
home and made a little start.
The greater part Of this land consists OF
grassy steppe, while near the mountains
in the north are large and small areas Of
forest, and at the foot of Kilimanjaro the
native population is 50 dense that the
colonial Government holds out no hope that
European settlers will be able TO acquire
a large acreage among them. The large
native population in Kilimanjaro will be
protected in the possession of the farm
lands they nave titled for generations.
The circular adds that the soil is gener-
ally fertile, but the settler should take up
only such land as has running water the
year around. The Government will only
lease the land at first, and the area assigned
to each settler may be as much as / 900
acres for crop growing or more for stock
raising.
Only a few cents an acre will be charged
for the use of the land. AS soon as the
settler has one-tenth OF his holding under
cultivation or otherwise devoted to useful
purposes he will be entitled to purchase
twice as much land as he has improved at
one to two rupees a hectare, or 20 to 40
cents for nearly two and a half acres.
The Government takes a more favorable
view of the labor question than the Ger
mans on the coast or among the Usambara
Mountains. The circular intimates that
the settlers may depend upon finding
among the natives all the labor they re-
quire, and says that the natives, IL treated
well, will work faithfully at a wage Of about
rs cents a month.
All kinds of information needed by immi-
grants arc here supplied in detail; and the
circular is noteworthy as the first official
Africa is well adapted for white settlement
and az an invitation to Europeans to go
and see if this is not true.