MOMBASA TO KIKUYU. 21 



has not, however, turned out well so far, though 

 the Kikuyu wheat and barley were considered 

 very good in London. 



Though it is obvious from the preceding re- 

 marks that the essentials of European life exist 

 in Kikuyu, this is not sufficient to induce settlers 

 to come out to this country. I find it extremely 

 difficult to see what they could do when they 

 arrived. Cattle could certainly be raised in con- 

 siderable quantities and driven to the coast for 

 sale, but there is no plant, except perhaps 

 tobacco, which can be recommended confidently 

 as sufficiently profitable and promising for culti- 

 vation. 



Sir John Kirk has recently pointed out that 

 the only portions of tropical Africa in which true 

 colonies are possible is that above 5,000 feet. It 

 is only, in my opinion, the strip between this level 

 and 7,000 feet, where the climate is far too wet 

 and cold for residence, that Europeans can live in 

 any degree of comfort. 



One can distinguish below 5,000 feet in most 

 places two distinct areas. That below 3,000 feet, 

 which I have called in the preceding the cocoa-nut 

 zone, but which might be better described as the 

 oil-palm zone, and that between 3,000 and 5,000 

 feet, which may be named the coffee zone. 



The former is always in a thoroughly bad and 

 dangerous climate. The latter, though not 

 colonisable, is quite suited for plantations, at 



