BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 
114 
In the same year, 1892, the foundation of our Courts of Justice was laid. 
At my recommendation a number of officials were given warrants as magis¬ 
trates by the Secretary of State, and were thus enabled to administer justice 
to Europeans and other foreigners under the “Africa Orders in Council of 1889 
and 1893.’’ 1 It was theoretically supposed that justice to natives only was ad¬ 
ministered by native chiefs, but in reality the native courts are practically held 
by British magistrates in the name of the local chief or as his representative ; 
for over most of the districts the native chiefs have surrendered to us by 
treaty their justiciary rights. Still, in some districts, native chiefs are 
encouraged to settle all minor cases themselves, and the natives are not 
allowed to go to the European magistrate except where the native chief cannot 
be relied on for fairness. No native chief or British magistrate, however, is 
THE KATUNGA ROAD IN PRE-ADMINISTRATION DAYS 
allowed to carry out a death sentence on a native without first referring the 
case to the Commissioner for consideration, and obtaining his sanction to the 
verdict and sentence. 
As far back as 1891 we had commenced road-making. Captain Sclater 
had begun to clear a road from Chiromo to Zoa, with the intention of ultimately 
carrying on this road to Mlanje in one direcion, and to Blantyre and Zomba in 
another. It was found, however, to be of more urgent need to the community 
that the road between Katunga and Blantyre should be made passable for 
waggons. Consequently Captain Sclater undertook the reconstruction of the 
Katunga road, 2 which proved to be a very lengthy and expensive business 
and is not yet finally completed. 
In the summer of 1892 Captain Stairs’ expedition returned from Katanga, 
1 That Qf 1889 only applied to British and British protected subjects ; that of 1893 gave us, in virtue 
of treaties concluded, jurisdiction over all subjects of Foreign States within the limits of the Protectorate. 
2 It had been originally made by ihe Lakes Company, but it was little more than a rough track, 
without bridges, and almost impassable for waggons. 
