I I o 
BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 
under Major von Wissmann, who at the head of a large expedition was con¬ 
veying a steamer (named after himself) to Lake Nyasa, on behalf of the 
German Anti-Slavery Society. 
In the middle of 1892 our Customs Regulations received definite form. 
Mr. Id. A. Hillier, who had joined the Administration in 1891, was made 
principal Customs Officer at Chiromo, and the efficiency of our Customs 
service owes much to his organization. In 1896 he was made Director-General 
of Customs. In 1892 also the first steps were taken to institute a Hut tax. 
The question of the taxation of the natives was in its initial stages a 
TREES PLANTED BY MR. NICOLI. AT FORT JOHNSTON (TWO YEARS’ GROWTH) 
difficult one to settle. In taking over the Lower Shire district on the west 
bank of the Shire from the Portuguese in the middle of 1891, the natives 
who had been accustomed to pay taxes to the Portuguese had asked me 
to assess their taxes, if possible, at a lower rate. On enquiry I ascertained 
that they had paid a capitation tax of something like half-a-crown a head 
per annum, which tax was levied indifferently on men, women, and children. 
The chiefs of the Lower Shire natives, however, were of opinion that they 
would prefer a Hut to a Poll tax. Estimating the average number of hut 
occupants at three, their former Poll tax would have resulted in each 
household paying about ys. 6 d. per annum. I therefore proposed to 
compromise the matter by fixing the annual Hut tax at 6jt. per annum 
and abolishing the Capitation Dues. The natives seemed well satisfied with 
