Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-08
BUSINESS STREET MNAlRoB1.

Copyright. 1905, by Frank G. Carpenter.)
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
NAIROBI, British East Africa.
HAVE just had a long talk with Mr..
Frederick J. Jackson. the acting gov
ernor and commander-in-chief of this
big territory which John Bull owns In
the heart of East Africa. Mr.. Jack
son came out here to hunt big game about
tive nty-f1ve years ago. and he has been
on the ground from that time to this. He
has long been employed by the British
government in the administration OF
Uganda and Of the protectorate of East
Africa. and he is now lieutenant governor.
and in the absence of Col. Sadler. the
acting governor of the country.
The Newest England.
Before / go farther. let me give you
some idea OF this wonderful territory
which the British are opening up in the
heart Of the black continent. 1t Is the
newest England. a land which has only
had life of about twelve years as a
colonial possession. and which, six years
ago. was as Inaccessible as most parts
of the valley Of the Congo. Today. the
Uganda railroad crosses 1t from one side
to the other, wagon roads have been cut
through the various provinces and new
empire. which is to be largely inhabited
by white men, seems to be at Its begin
ming.
The East Africa protectorate 10 for the
most part prairie. 1t is great plateau as
high as Denver. which extends in one
sv eep for 800 miles across the coun-
try and which rises almost straight up
two or three hundred miles back from the
Indian ocean. On the north the plateau
drops down to the deserts of Abyssinia
and :Somaliland: on the west 1t slopes
gently to Victoria Nyanza. and on the
south. maintaining its height: it is lost
the middle of the plateau is mighty
ditch known as the Great Rift Valley,
which contains five or six big lakes. and
about it and on it's edges rise the
volcanoes of kilimantaro, Mount Elgon
AMI Mount kenia.
This country altogether is bigger than
New England added to New York. New
Jersey. Pennsylvania Delaware and Mary
land 1t has a population of 100000 ma
tives. most of whom ten years ago were
warning with one another. Some of the
tribes mene their living by preying upon
their neighbors. Slavery was every
where common. and one Of the great
slave routes to the coast was not far
from the line where the Uganda railway
nov runs.
Today all these evils have been done
away with. The warlike tribes have
beer conquered. and they are turning
ing Slavery has been practically abol-
islled, and peace prevails everywhere. The
whole country Is now kept in good order
by only about eighteen hundred police
Eas. Indian soldiers. a great part OF it
along the line Of the railroad has been
divided up into ranches and farms Small
towns are sp-inging up here and there,
and in time the most Of the plateau will
be settled.
A White Mans Country.
There is no doubt but that white men
can live here. The children 1 see are rosy
with health. and the farmers claim that
with care. they are as we'll as they were
when back home in England. There are
some Europeans here who have had their
homes on the highlands for over twelve
years. and they report that the climate is
healthy and invigorating. They are able
to work out OF doors from until 10
clock in the morning. and from 8. to 8
o'clock in the afternoon. and during a
part of the year all the day through. AS
a rule. however, the sun Is hot at mid
day and one should not go out without his
head is well protected. The heat here is
dry. The nights are usually cool and a
blanket Is needed. At any altitude above
eight thousand feet ice may be found in
the early morning. and this notwithstand-
ing we are almost on the equator. Nearer
the coast the land drops and the climate is
tropical For two hundred miles back
from the. Indian ocean there are prac-
tically no white settlers, except at Nom
hasa. and it is only on this high plateau
that they are as yet attempting to live.
The Governor Talks.
But let me continue my description in
the words of the man who governs the
country My conversation took place in
lone. bl,,o iro,, roofed fYildtpv tpown os
the commissioners Office. situated on the
hill above Nalrobi. / had asked as to
British East Africa's future. Mr.. Jackson
replied:
ut is all problematical We have an
enormous territory and millions of people.
We have not yet prospected the territory,
nor have we dealt long enough with the