From "In the Heart of Africa," by Adolphiis Frederick, 
Duke of Mecklenburg (Cassell & Co.) 
A LIP ORNAMKNT, CONSID]?Re;d V^RY BEAUTIFUL 
BY the; NATIVLS 
on the mountain slopes, for whom pro- 
vision is made by continually burning 
away the dried-up grass. The young 
grass which shoots up from these burnt- 
out tracts forms a special delicacy. 
Stock-raising and the productivity of the 
country are greatly aided by the extra- 
ordinary number of small watercourses, 
which never run dry, even in the dry 
season. 
From what I have written it will easily 
be seen that the greater part of Ruanda 
is eminently adapted for colonization by 
white men, and that cattle-raising on a 
large scale, and also agriculture, may be 
carried on in a remunerative way, for 
the quality of the cattle itself is as excel- 
lent as that of the milk they yield. As 
to the quality of the soil, it simply leaves 
nothing to be desired, so that it is evident 
that there is a splendid opening here for 
the establishment of business on a vast 
scale. 
The entire region, however, is one 
which is quite unknown to the German 
government, and so it would be a very 
desirable thing if the state would decide 
upon sending out a commission, com- 
posed of agricultural experts, to examine 
into the conditions that exist. It would 
be necessary that an experienced 
forestry expert should be of their 
number, as the woods and forests 
question is an important one in 
K.uanda. 
Ruanda, in conjunction with 
Urandi, is the most thickly peopled 
region of Central Africa. Its popu- 
lation has been estimated at one and 
a half millions. The great area of 
forest land has, however, been en- 
croached upon by the increasing 
population, so as to provide sufficient 
space and pasturage for the cattle- 
rearing Watussi and for the agricul- 
tural activities of the Wahutu. 
At the present day Ruanda pos- 
sesses only two large tracts of forest 
on its boundaries : that of Rugege, to 
the southeast of Lake Kiwu, and 
the Bugoie forest country, which 
stretches from the northern end of 
the lake eastward. The remnants of 
ancient forests may be seen here and 
there on mountain tops ; and, as these 
groves are regarded as sacred, they 
are therefore carefully maintained. 
They evidently mark the abodes of an- 
cient tribal chiefs. The finest specimens 
of ficus are chiefly met with at these spots. 
Smaller groups of Acacia abyssinica — 
which, however, are very rare — may, 
says Mildbraed, be regarded as remains 
of pristine vegetation. 
The great central portion of the coun- 
try is entirely bare of trees. The ques- 
tion of fuel being one of the most im- 
portant, as regards colonization, this 
matter should be inquired into at once. 
Time should be seized by the forelock 
and a judicious afiforestation undertaken 
of those parts which most require it ; for 
there is no doubt that we should not rest 
content with the railway systems already 
established at Lake Victoria — the gleam- 
ing rails must be pushed still farther 
ahead, so as to insure that we are not 
robbed of those rich territories lying 
westward of the lake. 
OUR TROUBLES UNDER A BEE-TREE 
On the 14th of August we set out from 
Lake Mohasi toward the west, our road 
leading us at first through the swampy 
end of the lake. To accomplish the pas- 
sage, a huge quantity of papyrus stalks 
were cut and placed in layers. On this 
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