294 COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS 



The result ha?, I must admit, been most beneficial to the European officials, 

 who are not too well paid. Thanks to the enterprise of the (.lerman firms, 

 stores were opened at Entebbe, ^Nlengo, Fort I'ortal, and other places even 

 before the railwav cheapened commerce and transport, and at these stores a 

 great variety of European goods can be purchased. The (iermans have been 

 selling excellent wine, whiskies, groceries, and mo^^t of the necessities of 

 European life at prices which were certainly reasonable for the time and 

 yjlace. In fact, it really made existence })Ossible for the official, who before 

 this (ierman enter[)rise either had to li\e on native food or get into debt by 

 iturcha-ing provisions and wine in England and having them sent UjHCOuntry 

 I'rom Momliasa at a ruinous rate of transport and subject to innun^.erable risks 

 and incredible delays. 



Almost simultaneously with the German came the J>ritish Indian. He 

 rendered further benefits to tlie European community by bringing down the 

 German prices. and bv opening stores at jilaces whither even a (ierman hesitated 

 to penetrate. Within the term of my Special Commission. Indian traders 

 advanced their posts from Kampala (^lengoj to Toro and tlie vicinity of the 

 Congo Free State, to five places in I'nyoro, and all the posts at which 

 Euroiieans or native soldiers were established in the Nile Province, besides 

 openiniT bazaars at all the stations in the eastern half of the Protectorate. 

 This commercial enterprise of the (iermans and British Indians, of course, 

 added largely to our local revenues, and did a great deal to encourage the 

 natives to embark in trade in the ])roducts of their country. To the 

 British Indians I can only wish unlimited success, since tliey trade under 

 the British flag, and create trade, first in a small way and then in a large 

 way, where no trade has hitherto existed. To the (iermans, out of gratitude 

 for their belief in Uganda and for the comfort which they have added to the 

 life of the European official by the opening of good shops with provisions sold 

 at reasonable ])rices, we can only wish success, since all trade in I'ganda 

 must conduce to the prosperity of the Protectorate and the increase of its 

 revenues. 



In addition to Germans and British Indians, there came to trade in this 

 Protectorate Persians, Somalis, one or two Greeks, several Armenians, and 

 one Italian. A Persian has opened a soda-water factory at Entebbe. A native 

 of Kach in British India is erecting hotels for British visitors at the principal 

 stations on the Uganda Eailway and elsewhere in the Protectorate. 



With regard to the (iermans and to the Indians, they appeal to my 

 liking as a Government official because they give little or no bother; they 

 ask for no guarantee and for no concession. They enter the country and 

 pursue their trade under the laws in force, making the best of things as they 

 find them. In the case of British firms, I am bound to admit that they 

 are somewhat apt to ask for guarantees, for assured contracts, for concessions 



