Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/232

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THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — KENYA

firincipal rivers in the North are the Tana and Juba which flow into the ndian Ocean. They are both navigable for about 400 miles by shallow- draught steamers. Nairobi, the capital and the headquarters of the administration, has 14,000 inhabitants, of whom about 800 are European and 3,000 Indian. There are also 400 European farmers and 50,000 natives in the immediate neighbourhood of Nairobi.

Religion, Instruction, Justice.— The prevailing religious beliefs are Pagan ; but on the coast Mohamedanism has made great progress. There are many Christian mission societies, British, French, German, Italian, Swedish, and American, two being Roman Catholic. There are Government schools at Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu. The High Court is at Mombasa and sessions are held at Nairobi, Naivasha, Kisumu, and other places. District Courts presided over by magistrates are held in each district. In native cases local ideas and customs are considered. The legal status of slavery has been abolished throughout East Africa.

Finance. — Revenue and expenditure for 6 years : —

Tear

Revenue lExpenditure

Tear

Revenue

£ 1,368,329 1,548,703 3,192,327

Expenditure

1913-14 1915-16 1916-17

& £ 1,123,798 1,115,899 1,165,561 1,072,917 1,533,783 1 1,197,396

1917-18 1918-19 1919-201

k

1,490,571 1,570,705 3,192,327

1 Estimates.

In 1917-18 the expenditure included 140,951?. for Protectorate share of war expenses ; grant-in-aid, nil. Of the revenue for 1917-18, customs inland accounted for 170, 510?. ; licences and internal revenue, 335,622?. ; Govern- ment railways, 650.941Z. ; rents, 33,236?.; posts and telegraphs, 62,216?. ; fees of court and other fees, 43,870?. Public debt, 552,674?.

Agriculture and Mining. — The agricultural products ot the lowlands are essentially tropical, and include rice, maize, 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 economic 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 rapidly 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 o! the principal industries of the country and suitable land commands a high price in the market. Ostrich tanning has practically become an established industry. Sheep farming is pioving very profitable, and many pure-bred merinos have been imported. Dairying is also proving a profitable branch of farming.

The forest area extends over 3,200 square miles, of which the tropical forest covers about 183 square miles, the remainder being upland or highland, con- taining valuable timber trees. Near the coast aie mangroves, aud various rubber trees, besides ebony, copal, and other trees. The Taveta forest is sup- posed to contain useful timber. The Scrub forest which covers a large lowland area is capable of being turned to useful purposes. The Tana aud 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 Kenya forests of about 625 square miles contain cedar, yellow woods, camphor, jarrah, cork, iron-wood, pillar-wood, olive,