British and German East Africa; Their Economic and Commercial Relations (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ...where plantations are started. The white man is not able to do manual work in an unaccustomed climate, and must rely for this on the assistance of the natives. The difficulty was at once felt when the first plantations were established in Usambara. In 1891 some hundred labourers were imported from China and Java, at considerable expense. Their wages were high, too, and they suffered much from the climate. The experiment was not repeated, but more and more indigenous labourers were employed, the assiduous Wanwamwesi tribe being particularly induced to take up regular work. In 1895 the manager of the plantation at Kikogwe, near Pangani, settled 300 families there.1 The home of the Wayamwesi is the district round Tabora, but having been used as caravan porters since the Arab times, they are spread all over the land. They remain wherever they find a living, but sooner or later always return to their home country. Many of them wandered over to British East Africa, where they are much liked as workmen on the railway, as 1 K.B., 1895, p. 480. f porters for the numerous "safaris," and as labourers in the plantations. There is a settlement of about a thousand of them near Mombasa, and they are keeping in touch with the German Consulate there. With other natives of the German colony living at Mombasa, they have even elected a Chief, who is a sort of agent in all the relations with the Consulate, and the system has proved quite successful. The Consulate tries to lead them back to German East Africa whenever they are needed. During the rebellion of 1905 hundreds of them were recruited at Mombasa to serve as soldiers or porters. The recruiting of labourers for service abroad offers great difficulties in British East Africa, and depends on the...