116 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



I have seen the little shelters they put up at about 

 11,000 feet, where the temperature at the hottest 

 time of the day is only from 50 to 60 degrees. 

 They told me thirty-seven people had died there 

 of cold and starvation. They could watch the 

 Wanyoro destroying their plantations below, and 

 could only steal forth at night, in peril of their 

 lives, to get some of their own food. The effect 

 of these raids reaches far, for each means the 

 loss of perhaps half the population killed or en- 

 slaved, and damage to the plantations which it 

 may require years to set right. Moreover, it is 

 the very greatest hindrance to all industry, for 

 riches and prosperity are simply inducements to 

 the robbers to return. Besides the great advan- 

 tage which would come from European protection 

 from these raids, a very large amount of suffering, 

 and of oppression exercised by their own chiefs, 

 could be palliated. 



Unfortunately, it must be admitted that on the 

 European side the advantages are not so obvious, 

 because the difficulty of appraising an undeveloped 

 country is almost inconceivable. Still, let us take 

 for example the Shire highlands and compare it 

 with Ruwenzori. During practically eleven years 

 the Shire highlands have become a colony which 

 now affords employment to some four hundred 

 Europeans, and in the year 1894 showed a total 

 export of £22,300 value besides imports of £13,800. 

 Yet the Shirr highlands cannot possibly be com- 



