4 
A COLONY IN THE MAKING 
CHAP. 
Advocate thinks that all is well. Later on in 
the year the Land Officer, after many conscientious 
inquiries and marginal notes, expresses his approval, 
but has to refer the whole matter to the Governor. 
From the Governor the matter crosses the seas to the 
Colonial Office. In this office it rests for a while, to 
end up finally with the Secretary of State for the 
Colonies. Here, if it is too trivial,—and that it is trivial 
indeed God knows—-to become a matter of political 
importance, there is a chance of its final settlement. 
Now doubtless there is much to be said for such a 
system, and indeed there must be when the success of 
our colonial policy as a whole be considered ; still the 
delay is not appreciated by the settler, who, in the 
main, prefers a link in the chain, overriding tradi¬ 
tion, to give him a straight yes or no to his request. 
What are the assets of the Highlands of the 
country ? They start with its climate, which is a 
glorious one. The question of its transcendent 
health-giving attributes is discussed later, but there 
can be no question whatever of the pleasure and joy 
in life which it affords. The next asset lies in the 
soil, which is rich and abundant. No need here to 
look for alluvial washings or pockets ; all, or nearly 
all, the soil is good and waiting to be tilled. Another 
asset is our grazing, which is all that the heart of 
man can desire. Then there are our rivers, which 
are abundant, and many of which are clear and 
beautiful. Again, our forests are almost unsurpassed 
in Africa, and as they stand are worth many millions 
of pounds. Labour in the Protectorate is plentiful 
and intelligent; a fact that not only increases the 
value of our land a hundred per cent, but adds more 
than that to the comfort of living thereon. We 
