MEN OF THE TREES 



the facts of their distress. It was important to act im- 

 mediately not only for human relief, but for the es- 

 tablishment of better understanding. There was no 

 shortage in the neighbourhood, for everyone knew that 

 quantities of wood were being cut from their mangrove 

 swamps and exported to India. 



It seemed only natural that the urgent needs of those 

 in the adjacent towns should be first supplied. He in- 

 vestigated the case of each family and issued permits 

 according to their requirements, and thus a condition 

 of growing despair among these helpless war victims 

 was changed into hopeful activity. 



The vital importance of a capacity for perception of 

 local requirements and the power for immediate action 

 on the part of the man on the spot cannot be overes- 

 timated. 



Side by side with the Arabs, just back of the coast 

 line of East Africa, is the Nika, or desert country. To 

 the inhabitants of this territory before the advent of 

 the white man, life was a continual struggle for exist- 

 ence. While the women tilled the fields, the men played 

 their part in foraging raids, for their time was continu- 

 ously occupied in war or hunting. Under the new re- 

 gime the tribes are practically immune from the attack 

 of hostile neighbours, and it is no longer the necessity 

 to spend time in sharpening spears and making shields. 

 There is a serious attempt being made today to substi- 

 tute the plough for the spear and it is good that this 

 should be done, however dull the process may seem to 



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