BRITAIN AND GERMANY IN EAST AFRICA.
NOTE: By Sir JOHN KiRK, G.C.M.G., H.B.M.
Agent and Consul General, Zanzibar.
ALTHOUGH it is but a short
time since Mr. Joseph Thomson accomplished his great journey through Masai Land, much has,
occurred in East Africa since then. The route he first opened up has since been traversed
by two Europeans, and public attention called to that region through the steps taken by
Germany to build up an East African dependency. The issue of an Imperial Charter in 1885,
granting to a German company the government of certain di,,,,triets through which the
great caravan route from the Central African lakes now passes, led to remonstrances on the
part of his Highness Seyyid Barghash, who until then had been generally regarded as ruler
and sovereign of those parts. This protest was summarily answered by the appearance at
Zanzibar of a German squadron, which compelled the Sultan to acquiesce in Germany’s
claims, and to acknowledge the protectorates she had assumed inland.
British interests, which have for many years been paramount at Zanzibar, could not but
be seriously affected by the steps taken by Germany, and by the doings of private aild
irresponsible agents of the new German company, who aimed at setting up pretensions on the
coast. In order, therefore, to save the Sultan, our old ally, and prevent injurious
rivalry, it was eventually agreed between England and Germany that the Sultan’s rule
should be respected and recognized throughout a continuous coast–zone ten miles in
width, extending from near Cape Delgado in the south to the mouth of the river Tana in
Formosa Bay in the north; including the adjacent islands, and certain detached
trading–ports further north, to which it is not necessary here to refer. As regarded
the inland region lying west of the Sultan’s coast–zone, and situated lietween
the rivers Rovuma and Tana., it was agreed that a line should be drawn dividing this into
a northern and southern portion, and defining the spheres of influence of Germany and Great Britain; the
former securing freedom of action to the south, while the district to the north of this [358] division line was
assigned as open to British influence. Thus, while both powers recognize and respect the
Sultan’s rule on the coast, the interior has been divided ; Great Britain leaving to
Germany a free hand in the south; she on her part being equally bound to make no
acquisition of territory, (accept no protectorate, or interfere with the extension of
British influence to the north of the middle line agreed upon, which starting from the
mouth of the Umba river, a little to the north of the port of Tanga on the coast, runs
direct inland to Lake Jip�, passes along the eastern and round the northern sides of that
lake and crosses the Lumi river; after which it passes midway between the territories of
Taveta and Chaga, skirts the northern base of Kilimanjaro, and thence is drawn diagonally
to that point on the eastern side of Lake Victoria Nyanza, where the first degree of south
latitude strikes the lake. The district to which this mutual agreement applies is limited,
to the north, by a line drawn from the mouth of the river Tana, following that river or
its affluents to the point of intersection of the equator and the thirty–eighth
degree of cast longitude, thence. striking diagonally to the point of intersection of the
first degree of. north latitude with the thirty– seventh degree of cast longitude.
Reference to the map which accompanies AIr. Thomson’s book will show that his
route to the lake lay entirely within the zone of British influence thus left open, and
his admirable description is the only reliable one we yet possess of the region thus
secured to us, if we choose to avail ourselves of the opportunity.
No one can read what Mr. Thomson says of the climate and resources of this country
without noticing how favourably it compares with every other part of Kastern Africa which
lie, has. visited.
The Germans have secured in Usagara, Ukami, Ushambala, and Kilimanjaro (which. now are
open to them rich and fertile districts; but, as a rule, these are difficult of approach
and unhealthy, while the presence of the tsetes–fly renders the use of cattle and
horses impossible south of the British. zone. Moreover, the coast–slopes are steep,
and much skill and expense will be needed to construct an road to the interior. No doubt
the Pangani valley is level, and by it a road might be made; but it is unhealthy, and,
during a great part of the year, impassable for laden animals on account of the swamps.
From Mombasa, on the other hand there is an open and easy route reaching far beyond
Kilimanjaro, without any physical obstacle that needs engineering skill. Here the
gradients are easy, and the elevated and healthy plateaus accessible by such means of
conveyance as are now used in South Africa. From the fact that cattle are here everywhere
found we may conclude that the tsetse–fly is absent on this line of [359] route; while, if ever a
railway is constructed, the dryness of the country will have an additional recommendation
from the greater durability of all wooden structures. Water, no doubt, will be found not
far from the surface, even in the driest parts.
As regards our position, to the Sultan’s authority on the coast any British
undertaking would here stand in the same relation as the Germans do further south. With
the Sultan we have equal treaties, securing to us fixed rates on goods in transit, and
security from official interference; while, as a port, Mombasa is certainly the best north
of Zanzibar. Pangani–the port selected by Germany as the outlet to the Kilimanjaro
region–dangerous and impassable to any but small coasting craft.
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