328 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



some extraordinarily dangerous and difficult 

 ravines, then dropping suddenly to a height of 

 6,000 feet. In order to prevent the cataract of 

 Eumanika being used as an argument, we will also 

 set down the cost of 50 miles of rail along a flat 

 river valley. 



If, then, the African Lakes Route is reckoned 

 on the same basis as the Mombasa railway the 

 result is as follows : — 



Cost 





sr mile. 



Total. 



£ 



£ 



240 



3,276 



786,240 

 25,400 



50 



3,925 



196,250 

 40,000 



50 



2,930 



146,500 





£1,545,990 







£2,227,323 



Miles. 



1 Section, Chinde-Chiromo (steamers 



now exist and pay) 



2 ,, Chiromo-Matope railway . . 120 2,930 351,600 



3 ,, Matope-Karonga (steamers 



now exist and pay) 



4 ,, Karonga-Tanganyika rail- 



way 



5 ,, Tanganyika steamers (2) . 



6 ,, Tanganyika-Kagera line . 



7 ,, Kagera steamers (4) . . 



8 ,, (Cataract, 50 miles railway 



As compared with the Mombassa line 



The comparison is not in the least affected if 

 the cost of the Mombasa railway is reduced by 

 diminishing the gauge. 



Thus it appears that the capital required is 

 about two-thirds of that necessary for the Mom- 

 basa railway ; and even this is not a fair com- 

 parison. 



Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Lakes lioute are 

 required in any case, so that to develop the Victoria 

 countries and Upper Nile by using the Mombasa 



