186 THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



orchards are 3'ieldiiig their fruit. Probably there is no richer 

 pasture in the world than exists in some parts of British East 

 Africa, and the many stock diseases which used to be rife ai'e 

 rapidly disappearing before scientific investigation and treat- 

 ment. Inoculation provides immunity to rinderpest, dipping 

 prevents the dreaded East Coast fever, and to-day it is found 

 possible to graze highly-susceptible imported stock where a few 

 yeai's ago the hardier native cattle succumbed. There seems 

 little doubt, therefore, that the highlands of British East Africa 

 are likely to develop a great cattle industry. 



Fourteen years ago infrequent steamers dropped casual pas- 

 sengers in Mombasa. Two trains a week ran up to the high- 

 lands, and for several years in Nairobi the trains were an event 

 of such importance that clergymen protested against one of the 

 trains arriving on Sunday in that it drew away nearly their 

 entire congregation ! Nairobi consisted of the Government 

 and railway offices and quarters, one or two white tradesmen, 

 the bazaar, and a few other Indian shops. Metalled roads 

 there were none outside the railway quarters. The Government- 

 road, though laid out, was a quagmire bordered by a few begin- 

 nings of buildings. So little did some people believe in East 

 Africa that a deputation of prospective settlers was informed 

 by the Provincial Commissioner that British East Africa was not 

 a country for white settlement, and that they were not wanted ! 



Turning to the land side of the question, wonderful advance 

 is shown. In 1904 the majority of the settlers had their hold- 

 ings in the Kyambu district, and even in that fertile area many 

 found it impossible to make both ends meet. Land was prac' 

 tically valueless, and quite a large number of farms changed 

 hands for a mere song, or were surrendered to the Government. 

 It is true a slight boom set in during the year owing to the 

 rapid influx of new settlers, but when the subsequent reaction 

 came things were worse than ever, and the optimists of the 

 country could have easily been counted on one's fingers. Up 

 country the position was almost worse than round Nairobi; 

 quarantine had brought the stock trade to a standstill ; depres- 

 sion was everywhere. Land then to be had for the asking has 

 increased in value by leaps and bounds until improved Kyambu 

 coffee farms have changed hands at over £25 an acre, and unim- 

 proved land at £12 and over an acre. Many of the big grazing 

 areas throughout the country have proved valuable agricultural 

 lands, and have been split up into small blocks selling at up to 

 £2 and £3 an acre. Everywhere a steady increase in values 

 has taken place. 



