SECUHITV OF TENURE 223 



in which it now exists, and any one who wishes 

 to take up land with the bona -fide object of 

 engaging in agriculture need fear no official ob- 

 struction. If in preparing his deeds he has com- 

 plied with the law, his tenure will be as secure 

 as in any other country. The laws being a little 

 complicated, as land laws often are, he will be 

 wise in placing himself in the hands of a 

 Portuguese lawyer of repute to keep him in the 

 legal way. If he neglects to do this let him 

 not complain afterwards if he loses his legal 

 way and his land with it. 



Yet it cannot be denied that there is something 

 the matter with Portuguese East Africa ; not with 

 the land but with some of the laws ; the customs 

 tariff among them. What a blessing Europe would 

 confer upon Africa if she refrained from imposing 

 upon that infant continent, which she is now- 

 cradling, the customs curse under which she 

 herself is shackled, and which leads to such 

 calamities as the Douglas case. If the European 

 countries agreed that customs dues should be 

 levied at the coast only, and that once past the 

 maritime frontier commodities should be subjected 

 to no further impositions but be permitted to 

 circulate freely within the continent, tariffs could 

 be so adjusted that very little revenue would be lost, 

 while a great saving could be effected in the 



