Through Ruanda to Lake Kiwu 51 



ture, may be carried on in a remunerative way, for the quality 

 of the cattle itself is as excellent as that of the milk they yield. 

 As to the quality of the soil, it simply leaves nothing to be 

 desired, so that it is evident that there is a splendid opening 

 here for the establishment of business on a vast scale. The entire 

 region, however, is one which is quite unknown to the German 

 Government, and so it would be a very desirable thing if the 

 State would decide upon sending out a commission, composed of 

 agricultural experts, to examine into the conditions that exist. 

 It would be necessary that an experienced forestry expert should 

 be of their number, as the woods and forests question is an 

 important one in Ruanda. 



Ruanda, in conjunction with Urandi, is the most thickly 

 peopled region of Central Africa. Its population has been esti- 

 mated at one and a half millions. The great area of forest-land 

 has, however, been encroached upon by the increasing population 

 so as to provide sufficient space and pasturage for the cattle- 

 rearing Watussi and for the agricultural activities of the Wahutu. 

 At the present day Ruanda possesses only two large tracts 

 of forest on its boundaries : that of Rugege, to the south-east of 

 Lake Kiwu, and the Bugoie forest country, which stretches from 

 the northern end of the lake eastwards. The remnants of ancient 

 forests may be seen here and there on mountain tops, and as these 

 groves are regarded as sacred, they are, therefore, carefully main- 

 tained. They evidently mark the abodes of ancient tribal chiefs. 

 The finest specimens of ficus are chiefly met with at these spots. 

 Smaller groups of Acacia Ahyssinica — which, however, are very 

 rare — may, says Mildbraed, be regarded as remains of pristine 

 vegetation. The great central portion of the country is entirely 

 bare of trees. The question of fuel being one of the most im- 

 portant, as regards colonisation, this matter should be inquired 

 into at once. Time should be seized by the forelock, and a 

 judicious afforestation undertaken of those parts which most 

 require it. For there is no doubt that we should not rest content 

 with the railway systems already established at Lake Victoria ; 

 the gleaming rails must be pushed still farther ahead, so as to 



