136 
A COLONY IN THE MAKING 
CHAP. 
am naturally prejudiced in favour of the breed of my 
own country, but it seems to me that its record in 
similar countries proves it eminently suitable to this 
Protectorate, and I cannot help being delighted to see 
the young stock and half-breds looking so well. South 
Devons have many of the good qualities of the Red 
Poll, though their milking qualities are somewhat 
inferior. The breed has proved a very great success 
in South Africa, which should ensure our giving to it 
an extended trial. 
For the settler who starts in on cattle raising, the 
best course is no doubt to grade up the native stock. 
To start a pure-bred herd will be for some years both 
expensive and extremely risky ; such a policy, indeed, 
would be only likely to be justified were there an 
immediate prospect of obtaining high prices for the 
young bulls. Good native cows have gone up con¬ 
siderably in price during the last few years, partly 
owing to the increased demand and partly owing to 
several outbreaks of disease and subsequent quarantine 
regulations. A good native cow can hardly be bought 
under £10 nowadays, and few tribes will part with 
their best. The Masai, indeed, hoard their stock in a 
way that is distinctly detrimental to the general 
prosperity, and, generally speaking, would rather 
starve than sell. An expedition sent up under the 
chief veterinary officer in the autumn of 1911 to 
examine the prospects of opening up cattle trade in 
South Abyssinia and the Abyssinian Boran found the 
cattle extremely plentiful and of fine quality; the 
natives, moreover, seemed anxious to trade. A pure¬ 
bred bull born in the Protectorate can be obtained at a 
local sale, or an animal can be obtained from England 
at a very moderate cost. Native cows breed freely, 
