9« 
A COLONY IN THE MAKING 
CHAP. 
excess of the farms to be allotted, it is apt to lead 
either to a scrimmage at the land office doors with the 
object of being first applicant, as happened once to 
the destruction of decorum, or to the use of a 
lottery such as occurred on the occasion of the 
Londiani Allotment, a system which, besides corrupting 
the morals of the community by inciting to gambling, 
seems somewhat unfair on those who have taken 
the trouble to make a personal inspection and 
selection. 
With regard to proof of means: this desirable 
precaution takes rather careful handling. The writer 
recollects a certain £*i,ooo, which, lent for one day at 
\ p. c. interest, yielded not only proof of means to 
many applicants but a desirable income to the fortunate 
owner. It would be interesting to learn on what basis 
was estimated the means of the destitute gang of Boers 
who were permitted to take up the bulk of the Uasin 
Guishu plateau. 
As to the area of farms. In all humility I submit 
that they are not very fairly apportioned. The very 
best land is presumably that suitable for coffee and 
wattle. Seeing that 900 acres of such land may 
already be worth ,£4,000, it is not unreasonable to 
anticipate that in the course of a year or two they may 
well be worth £*8,000. The worst class of land is 
presumably that fit only for sheep-grazing. Such land 
is unlikely to be ever worth more than 10s. an acre, 
and 5,000 acres is altogether insufficient for a sheep 
farm. Taking the first three classes, therefore, a 
smaller grant and a better title would probably attract 
more settlers, while with the last the grant might 
certainly be increased. 
The temporary occupation licence represents an 
