TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 657 



the only substantial sources of supply which have supplemented the production 

 of the American cotton-fields. Some measure of increase may be expected from 

 these districts, but such expansion will be wholly inadequate to meet the 

 increasing demands of the world. It is well known that, generally speaking, all 

 countries within forty degrees north and south of the Equator are climatically 

 capable of growing cotton, provided the soil is of average fertility and the rain- 

 fall sufficient. It will be at once seen that such a cotton-growing zone embraces 

 the whole of the British colonies except Canada, Tasmania, and a portion of New 

 Zealand. Consequently there should be no physical or geographical difficulty in 

 obtaining ample supplies of cotton within the British Empire, provided the neces- 

 sary stimulus, financial and otherwise, is applied. The island colonies of Cyprus, 

 Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Fiji, and portions of Australia, British Borneo, 

 and the East Indian colonies each and all produce native cotton, and such pro- 

 duction can doubtless be considerably increased and rendered available for 

 export. In the West Indies the efforts of the British Cotton Growing Associa- 

 tion have already succeeded in re-establishing the industry of cotton-growing, 

 with much promise of success. The African colonies, more especially Uganda, 

 Nyasaland, and Lagos, have conclusively shown that the ' Dark Continent ' is 

 destined to provide a very large share of the cotton fibre which is so essential 

 for the commercial prosperity of the mother country and for the salvation of the 

 great Lancashire industry. So far for the seven years during which the cotton- 

 growing effort has been pushed and stimulated considerable success has been 

 achieved, but what has been done only makes it clear that the efforts need to be 

 continued with increasing energy. The increased production of cotton, due to 

 the efforts of the British Cotton Growing Association, has been progressive from 

 year to year, but the needs are so enormous and the work so colossal that 

 the increased supplies obtained during seven years only reach about one-thirtieth 

 of Lancashire's average yearly demand. Devotion, energy, persistence, and 

 increased financial aid are urgently needed from all sources, whether they be 

 private, commercial, or Governmental. 



2. The Region of Lakes Albert and Edward and the Mountains of Ruwenzori. 

 By Major R. G. T. Bright, C.M.G. 



The country described lies to the south-east of Lake Edward and close to the 

 Uganda-German East Africa frontier. The name Albert Edward for Lake Edward 

 used to cause confusion between it and Lake Albert. There was a also a large 

 arm of Lake Edward which had no native name. Last year King Edward 

 approved of Lake Albert Edward being known as Lake Edward and its north- 

 easterly arm being named George after the Prince of Wales. Travellers and 

 Government officials had at various times visited the greater portion of the 

 country we passed through. Lake Edward occupies a depression from 1,000 to 

 2,000 feet below the plateau and is 3,000 feet above sea-level. At the southern 

 end is a flat plain with a few acacia thorn and euphorbia trees dotted over it. 

 Hundreds of antelope roam over the plain. The few inhabitants (Bakonjo) live 

 close to or even on the waters of the lake, passing a curious existence and 

 dwelling on rafts. The water is brackish and unpalatable. Near the northern 

 shore is a group of small islands, one of which is densely populated. There is 

 no room for cultivation, so its inhabitants live on fish and foodstuffs purchased 

 from the natives on the mainland. 



Kazinga Channel is a narrow strip of water from one-quarter to three- 

 quarters of a mile in width. It connects Lake Edward and Lake George, which 

 lie in open country. Its shores are swampy, especially where it is entered by 

 the River Mubuku. The swamp oil the north-east of the lake was generally 

 full of elephant, and a large herd of buffalo roamed with them. 



The Katwe salt lake is worked by the natives. The salt is prepared and 

 then made up into loads wrapped round with banana leaves. In this form it is 

 carried by men to the various native markets ; it is not, however, fit for 

 European consumption. The river Semliki flows out of the north end of Lake 

 Edward along a broad shallow valley through the eastern extremity of the great. 

 Etuli forest of Equatorial Africa. The forest is often of the greatest density. 



