BRITISH EAST AFRICA 267 



working may take up his rifle and shoot a gazelle for meat, or 

 seek the excitement of a battle with elephant, lion, or rhino- 

 ceros, and then return to his comfortable club or electric -lit 

 home ! 



Fourteen years ago land could be bought or leased from the 

 Government at a nominal figure, but settlers found it hard to 

 make both ends meet owing to the absence of markets for their 

 produce. Picked farms changed hands for a mere song, and 

 many were surrendered to the Government. To-day well- 

 developed coffee and sisal hemp plantations are yielding rich 



CONGONI, SHOT BY Ml!. DUNCAN CARSON 



returns to their owners. Thousands of^acres are under, wattle, 

 maize, wheat, and beans. Sawmills are at work in the forests ; 

 orchards are yielding 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 are 

 rapidly disappearing before scientific investigation and treat- 

 ment. Inoculation provides immunity from rinderpest, dipping 

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

 possible to graze highly susceptible imported stock where a few 

 years 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. 



