The mirror., 1920-11-18

nercial centre.
The climate is hot wet, equatorial, es-
pecially on the coasrline where rainfall is
very heavy. Farther inland there is less
rain, and the elevation tempers somewhat
the tropical heat.
The surf-beaten coast is fringed by
dense growth of mangroves, and the rivers
come down to the sea through steaming
mangrove swamps, except in the extreme
south where the Batanga contains consider
able grassland.
A few miles inland is dense tropical
forest the home of the great anthropoid
apes, the gorilla, and the chimpanzee.
Amid these forests are rich resources
awaiting the development of >palm-oil, rub
Der, ebony, kola-nut, and wild coffee,
As in East Africa and in Southwest
Africa the Germans have established ex-
perimental farms and stations with view
to discovering the agricultural possibili-
ties of the rich and fertile soil. There are
many large plantations. Cacao is the
chief plantation product; coffee, rubber,
kola, cloves, vanilla, ginger, and pepper
are also cultivated. The chief exports
are palm kernels, rubber, palm-oil, ivory,
cocoa, ebony, and spices. The chief i'm
ports are textile fabrics, salt, ironware and
machinery, and spirits.
~ Duala is the chief port. Other smaller
ones are Bibundi, Victoria, Batanga, and
Kribi. Much trade with the hinterland
is done by native caravan, and by canoes
on the rivers. On the, Nyong and Lokunja
rivers there are steam launches running;
though the Sanaga River is the most easily
navigable, even where it runs across the
interior plateau.
There are only $50 miles of railway as
yet-the Mauerguba Railway from Duala
northwards. Another line from Duala
through Edea to Widimenge was in course
of construction in 1914.
The official capital is at Buea on the
lower slopes of Kamerun Peak, where alti-
tude makes life more tolerable to Euro
peans. Duala (22,000) is by far the
largest town. Others are Rio del Rey and
Campo. Aquatown and Belltown are two
large native centres.
The natives are principally Bantu
negroes south of latitude degrees NJ, and
Sudanese in Adamawa and the north.
Gold and iron are found, and native iron
is smelted for native implements. Much
collaborating is carried on.
Togo is a wedge of territory on the
Guinea coast between the Gold Cost
Colony and French Dahomey. On its sur
render in 1914, it was partitioned between
Britain and France. The French got about
two-thirds of the area which has been at
tached to Dahomey for administrative pur-
poses. It's area is about $1,000 square
miles. Its coastline is small-not much
more than 40 miles. LONE is the chief
port and the capital.
From the surf-beaten yellow sand of the
coast one passes inland to belt of forest
VI Aol-oCt AOPACdi yPC WhCiC pam Oii,
gum, palm kernels, rubber, ebony, shea
butter, dye woods, and wild coffee are OBJ
tanned.
The climate is unhealthy, with heavy
rains, especially near the coast.
The natives are chiefly Eve negroes,
and cultivate yams, tapioca, ginger, plan
tains, and maze or rear cattle. On the
rich plantations palm-oil, coffee, cocoa,
kola, tobacco, sisal hemp, and cotton are
grown. Native industries include iron
working, basket-weaving, pottery, cloth
weaving and strawplaiting.
The chief railway runs from LONE up
country to Banjeli. Another runs from
LONE north-westwards. Good roads have
been made, especially those linking LONE
with Misahohe and Atakpame.
The exports are of the typical West
African type-palm-oil, palm-kernels, rub