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326 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



from Usige he found the Akenyaru branch to be 

 10 metres deep, and had to find canoes to cross. 



My own belief is that the Kagera will be found 

 to be navigable by the Ru-Vuvu branch to a point 

 some 47 miles distant from Usige, on Tanganyika, 

 and lying nearly east-north-east from it. I am 

 bound to say, however, that my map is in many 

 ways very different from his. 



The route here suggested consists therefore of — 



1. Steamers on the Zambesi and lower Shire. 



2. Kailway across the Shire rapids, 120 miles. 



3. Steamers on Upper Shire and Nyassa. 



4. Railway across Stevenson Road, 240 miles. 



5. Steamers on Tanganyika. 



6. Railway to Kagera, 47 miles. 



7. Steamers on Kagera and Victoria Nyanza. 

 Now let us compare this route with the Mom- 

 basa railway and the German line. 



The only method of seeing the different relative 

 advantages of each is to estimate on the same 

 basis the cost (capital) and the relative values of 

 the country opened up. 



Special advantages and disadvantages of either 

 can then be considered separately. 



The Mombasa railway was roughly surveyed 

 and mapped (see Government Report, 1893) by 

 Major Macdonald and other Royal Engineers. 

 This is taken as a basis of comparison. 



The cost (see pp. 31-35 of this Report) falls as 

 follows : — 



