xvin MINERALS 177 



ficent finds arrive periodically, usually from the coast- 

 lands, presumably because they are less easily verified 

 in these districts ; and more than one company has 

 been formed to acquire and float the splendid proper- 

 ties. Gentle settler, beware of these companies ! The 

 origin of one discovery does more credit to the brains 

 of the down-country native than to those of the up- 

 country Englishman. A smart Swahili, having 

 acquired a chunk of coal in the neighbourhood of the 

 Docks, retired with it into the bush. Some days later 

 a travel-worn native, scratched by thorns and limping 

 sadly, reached Mombasa. On his head was a black 

 lump wrapped in grass. He had knocked it off a huge 

 uncovered mass of the same substance, and thinking 

 that it looked like the stuff the Mzungus (Europeans) 

 burn on the big boats, he had brought it in. The 

 Englishmen to whom he showed it looked, and lo ! it 

 was coal ! Their fortune was made ! Would he with 

 the utmost secrecy show them where he had made the 

 great discovery ? For a consideration he would. A 

 fair sum now, and more later? Yes, if in addition 

 there was a further sum to buy an outfit. The money 

 passed hands. The native went to procure the outfit. 

 Presumably he is still looking for it. 



While, however, no minerals have as yet proved 

 workable in paying quantities, there is one substance 

 which is already proving of great commercial value 

 to the Protectorate. This substance is, I presume, 

 more chemical than mineral, but may nevertheless well 

 be included here. I refer to the great deposit of 

 crystalline soda in Lake Magadi, by far the finest 

 known soda lake in the world. Though for many 

 years the presence of this lake has been known, and 



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