27 2 [October, 1902.] 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
Vol. VIII. No. 94. * 
now carried in waggons and carts, each drawn by a single horse. The Government must 
keep several relays of these horses, which are a continual source of annoyance and expense. 
Should the postal authorities decide to buy automobiles, those that are run by steam would 
be considered objectionable because of the real or fancied danger of fire to the imperial mails. 
At present, gasoline is exceedingly expensive here, but plans are in progress for its manu- 
facture in this country. If these plans prove successful, gasoline will undoubtedly become as 
cheap as in America, and its use for generating motive power will incre" rapidly. There 
are only a few street railways in Japan, some of which are electric lines ; the others employ 
horse cars. An enterprising promoter might find it possible to establish a public 
automobile service, which, until additional street-car lines are built, would meet with no 
competition except from jinrikshas. 

SIERRA LEONE. 
The report of the Colonial Secretary of Sierra Leone for the past year is satisfactory. 
The revenue was much greater than that of any previous year, amounting to ,£192,138 
(of which more than half was derived from Customs duties) ; the expenditure G£i 73 > 457 )> t°°> 
was greater than usual, owing to the liberal policy adopted in public works in the protectorate. 
The value of the imports was ,£548,286, and of the exports ,£304,410, this being a decrease, 
as compared with the previous year, in both cases. In exports this decrease amounted to 
about 13 per cent., because of a falling off in palm kernels and rubber. The product of the 
latter grows less, owing to wasteful methods of collection. The cost of transport of palm 
kernels has affected that trade, but the completion of the railway will revolutionize it, and 
bring to the coast thousands of tons of kernels which are now allowed to rot. The kola nut 
trade has also fallen in consecpience of low prices, due to the supply being greatly in excess 
of the demand. 
Two causes affecting the general trade of the colony are the severe restrictions placed on 
produce from the French sphere, whereby the Sudan trade — a large asset in former years — is 
gone, and the disturbances in 1S9S, from which the people are only now recovering. 
Nevertheless trade is in a healthy state, and will he largely increased by the railway, so that 
“ the condition of the country is distinctly promising.” 
An interesting paragraph of the report deals with Mahomedan education, a special 
department having been formed last year to deal with this subject in the colony and protec- 
torate. Four schools have already been opened at Freetown, and Mahomedans are earnestly 
availing themselves of the opportunities thus prov ided. Suitable teachers are greatly needed, 
and special efforts to train a sufficient number are being made. “ The Mahomedan question 
is regarded by the Government as one of the most important in the future of West and Central 
Africa. If Islam is properly understood, if its 3'outh, inoculated with British civilization and 
British ideas, are utilized by British administrators and merchants, it will give to England a 
wider and more permanent influence upon the millions of the Sudan than can possibly be 
wielded by any other agency. 
The population last year was 76,655. At the end of the year 76 miles of railway were 
open for traffic, with 13 stations. The work of extension is proceeding steadily. In tours 
made during the year the Governor found “absolutely no sign of either poverty or discontent,” 
the people appearing to have enough of the necessaries of life “ to allow them, for the most 
part, to loll in their hammocks all day and to dance and sing all night.” He found large 
tracts of land untouched, and reports that the whole country, from an agricultural point of 
view, was capable of great development. There has been no difficulty in collecting the house 
tax, and the amount does not go into the general revenue, but is spent for the benefit of the 
districts in which it is collected. “ In every direction there are signs that the wealth of the 
country is growing and that there is a steady and normal progress. Means of transport, by 
the railway and better roads, have been improved and extended. Slavery is virtually defunct.” 

THE TRADE OF ZANZIBAR. 
The latest report by the British Vice-Consul at Zanzibar shows a material’ improvement 
in the trade of that island. Zanzibar maintains its position as an important trade centre, and 
has not been ousted from it by the growth of its main rival, Mombasa, in spite of the impulse 
given to the latter by the Uganda railway. The total imports last year amounted to 
;£i, 196,831, and the exports to £1, 168,518, being in each case an increase over the previous 
year. Of the imports British India sent 35 per cent., German East Africa 22, the United 
Kingdom 10, and British Africa over 7 per cent., while of exports German East Africa took 
35 per cent., British India 12, British East Africa nearly 12, and France over 11 per cent., 
while the United Kingdom took about 7 1 per cent. Of the imports, piece-goods formed a 
quarter, bullion, rice, and ivory coming next in importance ; while in exports, piece-goods 
were a little less than quarter, cloves, bullion, copra, and ivory coming next. The ivory 
trade improved considerably, owing to accumulations in the interior, through a scarcity of 
porters, having been brought down to the coast by the railway. About a quarter of the 
Zanzibar ivory goes to Bombay and Ilong Kong. The Vice-Consul mentions that the ivory 
which makes its way down the Congo and so to Belgium is as different from the East Coast 
ivory as ebony is from mahogany. The tusks from the Zanzibar hinterland are by nature 
much softer and more easily worked. The softest ivory comes from the Benadir coast, and 
is said to be unrivalled in the world. The piece-goods trade improved through the excellent 
grain crops and consequent prosperity of the population on the mainland; the imports from 
the United Kingdom participate, to some extent, in this improvement, but the imports from 
Holland chiefly benefited. Dutch spinners appear to supply the ordinary dress of the Suahili 
men and women, the demands for which were specially large last year because of the 
prosperity of the agriculturists. German trade declined slightly, while that of the United 
States increased, mainly in piece-goods. The Vice-Consul considers that one important 
element in the maintenance by Zanzibar of its commercial position is that there is direct 
communication with London by the Eastern Telegraph Company's cables ; Mombasa, which 
is north of this island, is not directly connected, but lias only a branch cable. 
— 
Artesian Irrigation in Queensland. — The following extract from the Brisbane Queenslander 
throws an interesting light on the possibilities of extensive irrigation by means of water from 
artesian bores. “ In the central division of the State there is a large tract of country known as 
'the desert.’ It is of little value for grazing purposes, and, owing to the prevalence of dry 
seasons, it cannot be utilized in the ordinary way for agriculture. During the last six years 
various experiments have been carried out at some expense to prove that suitable crops may be 
grown thereby the aid of irrigation. Nature has supplied it with an apparently inexhaustible 
reservoir of artesian water proved to be suitable for irrigation. The land is easily cultivated, will 
produce crops in the driest of seasons, and give heavier yields of wheat, oaten hay, barley, 
potatoes, and other vegetables than any other soil we know of in Queensland. The water from 
the artesian bores is so pure that it deposits no mineral sediment to injure the soil, as is proved by 
the fact that for six years the same places have been continuously irrigated without any ill-effects. 
It is admirable soil for growing any kinds of citrus trees and for vines, as is evidenced by the 
orchard and vineyard of the Alice River settlement, situated some four miles from Barcaldine, 011 
the Central Railway. An artesian bore in that part of the conn try will give a supply of about 
500,000 gallons per diem. This is sufficient to irrigate at least 60 acres. It may irrigate a larger 
area than this by judicious manipulation. The cost of putting down a bore at the present time is 
considerably less than it was a few years ago. Half-a-dozen artesian wells in this country would 
cost now about £300 each. The cost of irrigating from such a supply is only a trifle, as it is 
applied by gravitation, the water flowing from the bore into main drains made by plough and 
delver, and thence by furrow through the ground to be irrigated. The few settlers who have been 
growing crops in this manner have done well. The seed germinates a few days after saturation 
of the soil, and if sown in June the hay is ready for harvesting in September. Potatoes and all 
kinds of vegetables grow well. The latter are sent by train to Rockhampton, where there is a 
good market for this kind of produce. The Alice River settlers have 15,000 cabbages in their 
gardens. These were selling in Rockhampton last week at 9s. 3d. per dozen. The main 
advantage in irrigating is that the crop is always safe. The dry season cannot destroy or 
injure it. The hot, dry climate enables the irrigator to use copious supplies of water, and this 
in turn produces heavy crops. 
NEW BOOKS, etc. 
The Canadian Mining Institute. (Ottawa, August, 1902), The Journal of the Cana- 
dian Mining Institute , 1902, containing the Papers and Proceedings of the Meetings of 
the Institute. Edited by the Secretary, B. T. A. Bell. Volume v., Svo,, j>p. xv. +649. 
This volume contains the transactions of the Canadian Mining Institute during the past 
year, and the papers given will he found most interesting and useful to mining managers 
and engineers. The mining industry of Canada grows in importance every year, as the 
mining districts become more developed. This is due mainly to the work of the various 
mining schools, in which large numbers of young men have been trained in the study of 
mining. Many of these are now 7 members of the Canadian Mining Institute, an institu- 
tion which has greatly contributed to the progress of mining and metallurgy in the 
Dominion. Mining engineering has received much attention and the methods adopted 
have proved very successful. 
Sutton and Sons (Reading, England). Vegetables and Flowers from Seeds in Tropical , 
Semi-tropical , and 'Temperate Climates. By Sutton and Sons. Illustrated, Svo., pp. 331. 
This handsome volume is intended to give information to Europeans, w'ho may have 
settled in distant lands, as to the growing of vegetables and flowers of their native 
countries in suitable localities. It is possible to grow most of the productions of tem- 
perate climates in every country of ihe world, given a due amount of care and attention, 
but some knowledge of local conditions and the exercise of judgment will be necessary to 
avoid experiments that must inevitably end in disappointment. The suggestions given 
in this book as to the proper time for sowing seeds in different climates and countries, 
and the soils best suited for grow ing the various plants will be of great service to amateur 
gardeners. The directions are clearly written, and the volume is printed in good style, 
the beautiful illustrations being artistic and well drawn, especially those of the different 
sorts of flowers, in which the shades of the petals are most carefully and skilfully 
depicted. 
Mr. II. J. Morgan, of Ottawa, the editor of Canadian Men and Women of (he Time , has 
in the press a volume entitled Types of Canadian Women and of Women. Connected with 
Canada, Past and Present. This work is described as “a picture gallery, accompanied 
by a biographical dictionary, of Canadian women, from the earliest times, who have 
excited interest or claimed attention either by reason of their official position or their 
more personal titles to distinction.” The work will be published by Mr. William Briggs, 
of Toronto. 
. 
CITY BRANCH OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, AT 
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The City Branch of the Imperial Institute embraces : — • 
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Countries are received and promptly dealt with. 
A News Room supplied with ; — 
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many pamphlets (for free distribution) dealing with Canada, 
the Australian States, New Zealand and South Africa. 
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France, Austria, etc. 
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The City Branch is in constant communication , by telephone and 
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establishing or facilitating business relations with mercantile houses, etc., in the 
Colonies and in India. 
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ten shillings, or by special arrangement, if likely to be 
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