MEN OF THE TREES 



inspection I crossed the Aberdares four times in differ- 

 ent places and always found this same great belt circling 

 the open moorlands. With the extension of the railway 

 to Nyeri this great belt of bamboo could be tapped in 

 several places. Throughout many parts of these areas 

 there is water in abundance and fuel is available in suffi- 

 cient quantities. 



Yet another extensive area is approached from Njuro 

 on the Mau escarpment. Here the bamboo is generally 

 smaller but there is a tendency for the walls of the 

 culms to be slightly thicker, and at the same time the 

 yield in the number of culms to the acre is greater. An 

 excellent road has been constructed through a part of 

 this forest and taps an extensive area. 



Much farther on and inaccessible at present is a huge 

 forest of bamboo of high quality. Here I travelled for 

 three days along elephant trails, constantly through 

 bamboo. The potentialities of these regions almost sur- 

 pass comprehension. The key to the situation is the 

 question of transport, for only by the extension of rail- 

 ways can these resources be turned to account. 



One of the most promising areas in the Colony is the 

 Kikuyu escarpment. Here the bamboo could be readily 

 exploited as it is within easy reach of the railway and 

 everywhere there is a certain amount of forest growing 

 either near the bamboo areas but at a slightly lower ele- 

 vation, or scattered about in the bamboo forest proper. 

 The water supply, if not abundant, is sufficient to meet 

 all requirements. Where the culms are smaller in size the 



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