Page:The empire and the century.djvu/909

 On the mountains of the Man, which are actually on the Equator, the days often resemble an English October, and at night there may be a degree or two of frost. The salient feature in the geography of East Africa is that volcanic action has thrown up a plateau, varying from 5,000 to 10,000 feet high, between the sea and the great lakes, which are largely formed from the waters which run down from this elevation. In British territory this plateau begins about 200 miles from the coast and extends about 800 miles in the direction of Lake Victoria. Less accurate information is forthcoming as to the interior of the German and Portuguese possessions, but it seems probable that a strip of high and healthy, though possibly not everywhere equally fertile, country runs down continuously to Rhodesia.

Uganda, which lies beyond this plateau, cannot at present claim to offer a climate suitable to European residence, though perhaps further exploration and improved communication may enable us to use the great Ruwenzori range and the mountains which border the Upper Nile for the establishment of stations. At present its importance is largely political. It looks both south and north, and commands the highways leading to Egypt and the Cape. It thus affects our two most important interests in the Continent In Northern Africa we have chosen Egypt and the east as our sphere rather than Morocco and the west. Now, the main factor in the prosperity and safety of Egypt is the Nile, and by the possession of Uganda we control the whole course of this river from its double source in Lakes Victoria and Albert to its mouth in the Mediterranean. In Lower Egypt the rise and fall of its stream are regulated by a dam built at Assouan, and it is now proposed to exercise a similar control over the upper portions of the river by means of various works, among which will be dams built on or near the two lakes. In any case it is clearly most important that the power which occupies Egypt should also occupy Uganda, for