XVIII 
MINERALS 
l 77 
ficent finds arrive periodically, usually from the coast- 
lands, presumably because they are less easily verified 
in these districts ; and more than one company has 
been formed to acquire and float the splendid proper¬ 
ties. Gentle settler, beware of these companies ! The 
origin of one discovery does more credit to the brains 
of the down-country native than to those of the up- 
country Englishman. A smart Swahili, having 
acquired a chunk of coal in the neighbourhood of the 
Docks, retired with it into the bush. Some days later 
a travel-worn native, scratched by thorns and limping 
sadly, reached Mombasa. On his head was a black 
lump wrapped in grass. He had knocked it off a huge 
uncovered mass of the same substance, and thinking 
that it looked like the stuff the Mzungus (Europeans) 
burn on the big boats, he had brought it in. The 
Englishmen to whom he showed it looked, and lo! it 
was coal! Their fortune was made ! Would he with 
the utmost secrecy show them where he had made the 
great discovery ? For a consideration he would. A 
fair sum now, and more later? Yes, if in addition 
there was a further sum to buy an outfit. The money 
passed hands. The native went to procure the outfit. 
Presumably he is still looking for it. 
While, however, no minerals have as yet proved 
workable in paying quantities, there is one substance 
which is already proving of great commercial value 
to the Protectorate. This substance is, I presume, 
more chemical than mineral, but may nevertheless well 
be included here. I refer to the great deposit of 
crystalline soda in Lake Magadi, by far the finest 
known soda lake in the world. Though for many 
years the presence of this lake has been known, and 
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