Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/298

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THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — AFRICA

1911-12, customs inland accounted for 101,088Z. ; licences and internal revenue, 173,617^. ; Government railways, 340,553Z. ; rents, 23,209Z, ; posts and telegraphs, 26,594^. ; fees of court and other fees, 21,142^.

Agriculture and Mining^. — The agricultural products ot the lowlands are essentially tropical, and include rice, niaize, various native grains, casava, cocoanuts, etc. The cultivation of sisal hemp and Ceara rubber is now being undertaken on an extended scale. Cotton growing is receiving attention on the banks of the Juba River. Other plants of econonjic value are being experimented with. In the highlands almost all crops of the temperate zone are grown, viz, : oats, barley, wheat, potatoes, all European vegetables, beans, peas, linseed, etc. There is now a large acreage under wheat. Maize culture is ra[)idly extending, and a large export in this commodity is likely to be developed. Many coffee plantations are established. The growing of black wattle is becoming one of the principal industries of the country and suitable land commands a high price in the market. Ostrich ftirmiug has practically become an established industry. Sheep farming is proving very })rolitable, and many })ure-brcd merinos have been imported. Dairying is also proving a profitable branch of farming.

The forest area of the Protectorate extends over 3,200 square miles, of which the tropical forest covers about 183 square miles, the remainder being upland or highland, containing valuable timber trees. Near the coast are mangroves, and various rubber trees, besides ebony, copal, and other trees. The Taveta forest, on the German boundary, is supposed to contain useful timber. The Scrub forest which covers a large lowland area is capable of being turned to useful purposes. The Tana and Juba rivers are bordered by trees of tropical growth, and the Witu forest timber trees and furniture woods. But the valuable forests are within the highland area to the west and north of Nairobi. The Kenia forests of about 625 squa^je miles contain cedar, yellow woods, camphor, jarrah, cork, iron -wood, pillar- wood, olive, and many other useful species. The Aberdare forests (about 750 square miles) contain abundance of similar trees. The Man forest (about 1,200 square miles) is incompletely surveyed, but is known to contain many ex- cellent timber trees. The forest on Mount Elgon (about 50 square miles) is little known.

The mineral resources are not yet fully explored, but do not appear to be very extensive. There are large deposits of natron in the Rift Valley, particu- larly at Lake Magadi, near the border of German East Africa, Diatomite also occurs in large quantities in the same region. Gold has been discoveied in S. Kavirondo, but not in sufficient quantities to Avarrant mining. Graphite and marble are found in the metamorphic rocks in various locali- ties, and limestone is worked at various places for building purposes. Manganese is found in the sandstones near the coast ; opals have been found in some of the streams on the west side of the Rift Valley, but up to now have not been considered of commercial importance.

In five years land was disposed of as follows : —

Year

Freehold Leasehold Total

Agricul- ture

Grazing Fibre

1

Forest

Fuel

1007 190S 1909 1910 1911

acres 32,795 15,926 10,348 6,216 4,941

aci'es

538,573 432,856 363,222 383,382 603,811

acres

571,368

448,782

373,570

389,598

608,752

acres 26,126

7,323 18,394 19,852

7,370

acres

329,219

374,211

350,988

369,746

601,382

acres 214,400 66,892 3,362

acres

acres

1,623

356

826

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