The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-12-23

prepared by the National Geographic
Society, Washington. D. ca
~ HE first link of the proposed
British air service from Cairo to
the Capt of Good Hope in Africa
viii soon be established with the
beginning of an airplane line from
Khartum in the Soudan to Kisumu in
Kenya colony. Kisumu is on Lake Vic
torfa,. the Lake Superior" Of Africa.
Kenya, which will thus be brought
into much closer touch with England,
is one of the most fascinating regions
of Africa, geographically speaking. 1t
presents a relatively new name to
world maps, for before the World war
it was known as British East Africa.
AT the southeast corner of Kenya
is Lake Victoria, second largest fresh
water lake in the world. Along its
shores dwell a people whose nudity
is a symbol of their modesty, and
whose men are as beautifully formed
specimens of their sex as are the
Marquesas women of theirs
Just across Kenya's southern border
is Kilimanjaro, highest mountain in
Africa, and near its center is Kenya
peak, also volcanic, which o'ertops
Mount Whitney by some 1900 feet.
Cutting across the colony is the ia
nous Rift valley, here from 20 to 40
miles wide. and generally several thou
sand feet below the plateau's general
level.
However, it is as a zoo and lux
uriant botanical garden that Kenya
makes its chief appeal to the nature
loving visitor. Perhaps it's most amaz-
ing single spectacle is the flamingo
colony on the northern shores of Lake
Harrington. The banks are dazzling
white with the birds guano, their
nests are mounds of mud spread like
mole hills on flat plain.
The adult bird has a rose-pink neck
and body, the beak is purple and scar
let, the wing feathers are crimson,
For mile or so before one reaches
their haunt he can hear these birds
the splash and the swish of a million
or so becomes tumultuous as he APP
proaches.
Hippopotami swim in the shallow
waters Of this bay; antelope and gnu
infest its shores. Its port, Kisumu, is
the terminus of the Uganda steamship
line, which lands rubber, ivory and
hides here for railway shipment to
the coast.
Government of the Colony.
A few years ago Great Britain had
an uncomfortable racial problem on
her hands in Kenya, but the matter
has now apparently been smoothed
over. The native population numbers
about 100000 and there are in add.
ton whites of European origin, East
Indians and Arabs.
From the time when British infiu-
ence made itself felt in East Africa,
during the last quarter of the Nine
feenth century, until 1920, the then
British East Africa was protec-
torate, a form Of government which
the British empire generally makes
use OF when there Is practically no
white population other than the adj
mfnistrative officials. Under this sys-
fem there was scarcely any popular
phase to the government, affairs were
administered for the most part as the
officials thought best. A start toward
popular institutions was made In 1906
when executive and legislative coup-
ellis were established.
BY 1919 the white population had
grown to the point (nearly 10000 felt
to demand greater governmental par
ficipation. Provision was made for
the white settlers to elect II members
to the legislative council. Two were
appointed to represent the East In
dian population, and one to represent
the Arabs. A sufficient number of Off
cfal members was then appointed to
give the government a majority. The
final step of creating the newest Brit
ish crown colony from the old pro-
tectorate was made July %, 1920,
when Kenya colony came into exist
ence.
The emigrants from India and
their descendants, who outnumber the
Europeans two to one, We're dissatis-
fled with their small representation on
the legislative council and demanded
equal suffrage. There also existed in
the background the question Of what
part if any the 100000 black native
residents Of the colony should take