Science and Colonial Development 



of the Tropics, they acquire it through continuity 

 of employment before they become eligible for 

 the higher appointments. On the other hand, in 

 tropical Africa, in the West Indies, and elsewhere, 

 the nomination of the Secretary of State appears 

 to be the only qualification for entrance into 

 official life. The writer is not aware why the 

 system of competition should not be universal, 

 though he does not suggest that it alone would 

 necessarily give satisfactory results. Indeed, it is 

 a favourite theory of his that candidates who have 

 qualified in competition for service in the Tropics 

 should, before proceeding to their posts, be re- 

 quired to go through a course of study in tropical 

 administration. 



Finally, in the impossibility of giving a record 

 of the scientific work done in each of the crown 

 colonies, a few particulars are appended, as typical 

 of the problems which have to be faced, in which 

 the High Commissioner of Southern Nigeria sum- 

 marises the progress of the Protectorate in 1904 : 



" The continued increase in the trade and revenue, 

 which enabled a sum of no less than 93,000 to 

 be devoted to extraordinary public works, and 

 also the payment of a largely increased contribu- 

 tion of 50,000 towards the cost of the adminis- 

 tration of Northern Nigeria. 



"The Forestry Department is now fully orga- 

 nised and capable of exercising an efficient control 

 over timber-cutting, and, in a lesser degree, over 

 the proper tapping of rubber-bearing plants. 



" Many articles used in trade, building, education, 

 169 



