io6 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST 
[August  i,  1892. 
enough  of  calico  to  cover  his  nakedness  his  require- 
ments are  nil,  and  it  will  take  a long  time  before 
we  can  induce  him  to  take  to  luxury  : he  must  be 
educated  to  them,  and  nothing  but  time  and  civilizing 
influence  brought  to  bear  upon  him  will  do  it. 
Wo  have  other  fields  for  labour  although  distant,  which 
can  be  tapped  and  must  be,  as  we  can  never  depend 
upon  other  than  immigrants  from  the  Lakes  district 
and  other  parts  of  Nyassaland  where  there  is  a teeming 
population,  for  coffee  cultivation,  for  just  at  the 
time  when  labour  is  most  wanted  during  the  wet 
season  our  local  supply  fluctuates  so,  and  sometimes 
fails  altogether,  that  its  a hopeless  job.  I am  making 
arrangements  to  get  Atonga  labour  from  Lake  Nyassa : 
they  come  for  12  months.  Buchanan  Brothers  and 
the  African  Lakes  Company  always  have  Atonga 
labour  under  an  engagement. 
Smallpox  has  gone  right  through  the  villages  about 
here  committing  great  ravages  amongst  the  people. 
I would  have  liked  to  let  your  readers  know  upon 
what  terms  land  can  be  bought  or  leased  from  the 
British  Central  African  Administration,  but  cannot 
get  a reply  from  the  Commissioner  on  the  subject. 
He  has  put  a stop  to  purchases  from  native  chiefs, 
and  delays  settling  all  land  questions,  for  what  reason 
no  one  knows.  Some  say  he  is  grabbing  all  he  can 
for  Rhodes  who  is  paying  £20,000  per  annum  for 
2 years  for  B.  C.  A.  A.  However,  be  this  as  it 
may,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  a fair  and  equit- 
able settlement  of  all  claims  will  be  made  soon, 
as  long  and  vexatious  delay  disgusts  settlers,  and  bars 
advancement  and  enterprize. 
The  African,  as  a labourer,  if  he  could  be  only 
compelled  to  work,  beats  the  Tamil  cooly  to  sticks 
for  physique  and  everything  else : they  do  twice  as 
much  work  ; but  it  is  more  through  fear  of  the  white 
man  than  anything  else.  This  fear  will,  no  doubt,  wear 
off  in  time ; in  fact,  my  near  villagers  are  beginning 
to  what  would  you  call  it,  too  fond  of  malingering 
or  idling  when  the  master’s  back  is  turned,  just  like 
the  Tamil  cooly. 
The  administration  forces  at  Lake  Nyassa  have 
met  with  a serious  reverse,  and  the  loss  of  poor  Capt. 
Maguire  and  others.  Since  they  were  here  and 
conquered  Chikumbathey  have  marched  through  the 
country  with  success  in  every  instance  of  opposing 
chiefs  till  the  present. 
The  Lake  Nyassa  tribes  are  numerous  and  strong 
and  it  seems  absurd  our  Administration’s  small 
force  trying  to  conquer  them  by  force  of  arms, 
which  has  resulted  in  raising  a nest  of  hornets  about 
quiet  and  inoffensive  planters,  missionaries  and 
traders,  who  are  now  threatened  by  the  combined 
forces  of  the  powerful  chiefs  at  the  south  end  and 
s.-east  shores  of  Lake  Nyassa  to  be  driven  out  of 
the  country. 
The  Commissioner  and  the  remainder  of  the  de- 
ceased Captain’s  force  have  retired  to  a small  fort 
named  Fort  Johnstone  on  the  Shirfi  at  the  entrance 
to  the  lake  where  Makangeries  and  Makandangis 
forces  have  appeared  in  a hostile  attitude,  but 
fortunately  retired  after  having  a look  and  nothing 
more.  Now  I hear  that  the  Sikh  soldiers  have  rebelled 
because  they  don’t  get  wheat  flour  and  I don’t 
wonder  at  it : those  soldiers  have  put  up  with  more 
than  any  other  class  of  men  would.  It  appears  no 
provision  has  been  made  for  feeding  the  poor  fel- 
lows, and  they  have  actually  been  nearly  starved  at 
times,  having  to  depend  upon  obtaining  native  food. 
Indian  corn,  and  millet  of  which  the  people  here 
only  grow  enough  for  their  own  consumption,  as  there 
is  no  market  for  more. 
Although  endeavours  have  been  made  to  obtain 
supplies  locally  causing  almost  a famine  in  some 
districts,  the  supply  has  been  totally  inadequate  for 
so  many  months,  of  course  Zanzibaris  included. 
These  latter  rascals  have  in  some  instances,  which 
have  come  under  my  notice,  actually  with  loaded  rifle 
extorted  from  the  natives  and  made  the  robbed  carry 
food  for  the  robber.  Enough  on  this  subject.  Most 
of  the  residents  here,  at  least  those  whom  I have 
seen,  say  that  we  were  better  off  without  the  so- 
called  B.  C.  A.  A.,  and  I am  of  the  same  opinion. 
The  country  is  not  developed  enough  yet  to  re- 
quire administration  and  cannot  support  it.  How 
on  earth  are  the  people  to  pay  gun  taxes  and  all 
sorts  of  other  taxes  when  there  is  no  money  in  the 
country,  and  the  monthly  hire  of  a labourer  is  only 
enough  of  calico  to  keep  himself  and  family  from 
shameful  nakedness  ? It  is  said  the  taxes  can  be 
paid  in  kind,  fowls,  grain,  &c.  What  is  the  use  of 
that  when  there  is  no  means  of  converting  the  produce 
into  money,  300  miles  away  from  the  coast,  and  some 
parts  over  1,000  and  Indian  corn  flour  selling  at  Id  per  lb. 
at  home.  Ivory  there  is  none  except  in  the  far 
distance  where  the  B.  C.  A.  A.  forces  dare  not  go 
I fear  to  collect  it.  “Ah ! well,  we  shall  see  by  and 
by  they  say.” 
Coffee  is  looking  splendid  at  present  after  so 
much  wet  weather.  We  have  had  over  40  inches  of 
rain  since  Nov.  last  to  date,  and  118  days  were 
rainy  during  last  year: — Jan.  18,  Feb.  24,'  March 
14,  April  6,  May  3,  June  2,  July  4,  Aug. 
3,  Sept.  4,  Oct.  5,  Nov.  15  and  Dec.  20, 
So  you  see  we  have  perfection  of  a climate  for  coffee, 
at  least  I think  so  ; but  we  have  many  difficulties 
to  contend  against  which  I cannot  find  time  to  enu- 
merate at  present. 
The  suitable  land  within  reasonable  distance  of  river 
transport  is  all  taken  up  by  private  individuals  ex- 
cept what  is  claimed  by  the  Commissioner  for  the 
British  Crown  or  Mr.  Rhode's  administration  whose  re- 
presentatives here  seem  to  try  and  ride  the  high 
horse  over  enterprising  traders  and  planters  who  have 
been  here  for  years  and  question  the  B.  C.A.  A.’s 
right  to  land,  which  the  officials  propose  to  take 
from  them,  only  allowing  one  planter  to  hold  250 
acres  whether  he  has  a title  to  1,000  or  not,  and 
whatever  price  he  may  have  paid  for  it.  at  least  so 
the  rumour  goes ; that  such  is  to  be  the  decision  of 
the  Commissioner  when  he  holds  the  land  courts, 
of  which  I made  mention  in  my  last  letter,  but  no  fixed 
date  is  yet  known. 
It  is  a pity  we  have  no  newspaper  here  like 
the  Old  Rag  to  take  up  our  cause  of  dis- 
content. I can  only  say  ’ without  going  into  de- 
tails that  should  the  Commissioner  carry  out  all 
the  schemes  that  he  is  reported  to  entertain, 
with  reference  to  the  planting,  trading  and  mission 
enterprise,  we  may  all  shut  up  shop,  and  leave 
the  country. 
It  is  agreed  upon  all  hands  and  the  missionaries 
are  the  most  sanguine  that  we  were  better  before 
and  would  be  much  better  off  now,  if  left  without 
Rhdoes's  administration  which  is  forced  upon  us 
unnecessarily. 
The  only  good  they  have  done  is  to  start  a 
postal  service,  but  that  we  had  before:  the  African 
Lakes  Co.  did  the  work  as  well  at  less  expense.  The 
road  which  was  to  be  carried  through  to  Lomba 
and  Lake  Nyassa  was  started,  but  only  about  a mile 
completed,  then  deserted  for  want  of  funds,  they  say. 
So  we  are  not  to  get  a road  for  goodness  knows 
how  long,  leave  alone  tramway.  So  full  of  hope  8 
months  ago  but  now  in  despair  about  getting  away 
our  bumper  crop  2 or  3 years  hence.  I hope  I won’t 
tire  and  disgust  you  about  our  Government  affairs, 
but  I am  sure  your  notice  of  our  litlle  grievances 
would  bear  weight  at  home  and  be  the  means  of 
some  inquiry  being  made  into  the  conduct  of  the 
B.  C.  A.  A.’s  behavoux  to  both  native  and  European 
British  subjects. 
P.  S. — In  your  Observer  of  21st  February  I see  a 
letter  signed,  “Afrikander,”  warning  intending  voyagers 
to  East  Africa  (I  don’t  know  what  part  he  refers 
to  as  I have  not  seen  the  advertisement  alluded  to) 
about  malarious  fever.  I can  endorse  every  word 
the  wi'iter  says,  as  the  plain  and  unvarnished  truth, 
if  he  refers  to  Nyassaland.  If  I have  been  once  down 
with  fever  I have  been  twenty  times,  since  I came 
here ; but  still  stick  to  it  in  hopes  that  the  place 
may  become  more  healthy  as  the  country  is  opened 
up.  The  mortality  amongst  young  men  in  this 
country  is  fearful  to  think  of : since  I came  here 
amongst  a small  European  community  (about  50) 
there  have  been  about  ten  deaths  mostly  from  fever, 
the  last  being  a fine  strong  specimen  of  a Scotchman, 
poor  David  Buchanan  who  has  been  planting  here 
for  years. 
