NYERI. 



THE district of Nyeri is situate between Mount situation. 

 Kenia and the Aberdare Range at an altitude 

 of about 6,000 feet, and is distant about 100 miles 

 from Nairobi. A good road through Fort Hall and 

 Thika connects it with the Capital. The Nairobi- 

 Thika railway accounts for 30 miles of the distance, 

 and it is the intention at some future date to continue 

 this line to Nyeri : in fact the work had already been 

 started when war broke out, but had to be suspended. 



It is chiefly undulating country, of soil a deep soil and 

 chocolate colour very rich in humus, with a deep rich rivers. 

 subsoil, similar to that of Kyambu. The district is 

 exceptionally well watered, principally by the Chania, 

 Muringatto, and other tributaries of the Tana and by 

 the Tana river itself. These rivers are capable of 

 supplying more than sufficient power for all the likely 

 requirements of the district, and are already being 

 made use of in this way. 



The climate is healthy and bracing : malaria does climate. 

 not appear to be present in the locality. The natural 

 beauty of the district is exceptional, even for a country 

 like British East Africa. Timber is scattered in 

 patches, and parts of the great Kenia Forest are near 

 enough to permit of their utilisation by the settlers in 

 the district. There are two saw-mills, which turn out 

 excellent building materials. 



Development of various agricultural industries 

 has been continuous for several years past. There are 

 nearly one thousand acres under coffee, which is 

 doing excellently, while sugar cane is grown along 

 the rivers by both settlers and the natives. Beans and 

 maize do well, and flax has been proved to do so. 

 The farm of the Italian Mission grows wheat success- 

 fully, and most fruits — especially citrus — do well. 



The district being situate in the midst of an 

 immense native reserve, labour is plentiful and cheap. 

 Men receive Rs. 4/- per month and women Rs. 3/-. 



The country further out toward West Kenia is 

 pre-eminently suited to cattle and sheep, the grazing 

 being exceptionally good. Sheep do better there than 

 perhaps anywhere else in the Protectorate. South 

 Kenia is an endemic East Coast fever area. 



M. D. LE POER TrExNCH. 



AGRICULTURAL 

 DEVELOPMENT. 



LABOUR 



WEST KENIA. 



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