The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-28
German East Africa

Colony Just Wrssted From Gsrna
ny Unknown Until Middle Of Last
Cent
ury.
From The Christian Science Mont
tor: AS far as annals are concern
ed, German East Africa is a very
young country. Until the middle of
the nineteenth century, only the
coast land of the territory was
known, either to Europeans or to the
Arabs. The Arabs, indeed, We're the
first people in possession, and when
the Portuguese, stretching out hands
of dominion in all directions, as they
did during the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries, arrived in due course, on
the east coast of Africa, they found
the Arab everywhere in power. The
hold OF the Portuguese on the coun-
try was never firm, never extended
very far over the vast unknown
hinterland to the west, and when
they finally took their departure, in
the early years of the eighteenth
century. the Arabs returned. like
water to an old water-course. All
the coast towns, north of Cape Del
gado, the present southern limit OF
German East Africa, fell under the
sway of the Arabs of Muscat and,
later on. under that of the Sultan OF
Zanzibar.
Now, the Arabs of Zanzibar were
apparently more enterprising than
the Arabs of Muscat. They had a
strong penchant for exploration.
Fpom about 1880. or even earlier,
they began to penetrate inland. and,
by 1850, had established themselves
at Ujijj. on the eastern shore Of
.ss.1.
figured prominently in the events of
the last two years. The Arabs also
penetrated as far as Nyasa to the
south, and the result of all this was
that the Sultan OF Zanzibar began to
make vague claims to include all this
vast country within his dominions.
In those days it was nobody's
business in particular, but of all the
powers, the United Kingdom was. Of
course, most nearly concerned, as
Zanzibar was in a state OF semi
dependence on India. When, how
ever. the Sultan Bargash, through Sir
William Mackinnon. offered to lease
the whole territory to Great Britain
the offer was declined. Shortly af-
forwards, largely owing to the ex-
plorations of Stanley, q movement
was set on foot for the partition of
Africa amongst the powers. Ger
many desired territory on the east
coast, but British influence was SO
strong at Zanzibar that the German
Colonization society determined TIC
accomplish its purpose secretly The
result was the famous exploit of the
three young Germans, Karl Peters,
Joachim Count Pfeil, and DIR. Juhlks
Making their way inland, they got
into touch with the chief Usambara,
and induced him to sign a treaty
with them. and to declare his inde-
pendence Of the Sultan of Zanzibar
Other treaties quickly followed, and,
early in 1885, the German emperor
granted a charter of protection to
the colonization society. Zanzibar
resented the movement, but il was
acquiesced in by the British govern
ment, and finally, after much nego-
tiation, between Germany, the Uni
ted Kingdom, and France. the Sui
tan of Zanzibar coded absolutely to
Germany the mainland territory for
100000 marks.
Meanwhile. German comTtanies
had begun to exploit the country. In
1883, the German East Africa com
pany took over the administration
OF the Arabs. and thereafter quick
~ followed the first of those perto-
die risings, whether Of the Arabs or
the natives, against the Germans.
which logged the steps Of German
rule In the country for many years
The story Of how some Of these ris-
ings were suppressed Is one Of the
blacklist IN the history Of German
colonial administration Ultimate
ly, after some. twenty years OF strug-
gle, Germany made good her hold on
the country but development was
slow, and ii was only during the
eight years on SO Immediately pre-
eeding the war that adequate meas
ureg were taken to develop the re-
sources OF the colony.