Impressions of North-East Rhodesia 



of Bangwelo are also included in the Mpika district. 

 Of these we know nothing, but we were told that 

 they were useless as porters, though useful for 

 agricultural purposes. While in this connection we 

 may mention that certain tribes, mostly large cattle 

 owners, such as the Masai in East Africa, will not 

 undertake manual labour of any sort, though they 

 will work as shepherds and herdsmen. 



Lastly, as regards the calls on the local labour 

 market, these are especially heavy, for the sparse- 

 ness of population and the low state of intelligence 

 of the natives in the Serenje district admit of very 

 little labour being drawn from that part of the 

 country, so much so that the Local Government is 

 unable to assist travellers other than officials in the 

 matter of porters. 



In consequence of this shortage the Mpika 

 district, though situated to the northward of the 

 Serenje district, has to supply practically the whole 

 of the labour calls to the westward of the Luangwa 

 valley. Anyone arriving at Broken Hill and 

 requiring porters has to engage them from Mpika 

 or Fort Jameson, according to the route he is about 

 to take. Incidentally I may mention that it is as 

 well for the intending traveller to make his arrange- 

 ments well ahead, otherwise he may find himself 

 stranded at the railhead with some weeks of weary 

 waiting before him. 



In addition to current demands Mpika has also, 

 during the dry season, to find labour for the 

 Goverment salt-mines north of Mpika, and equally 

 a quota for the Transvaal mines, which every- 



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