When war broke out in Europe in 1914, the fighting quickly extended to the colonial possessions of the European powers. In 1916 British forces operating from South Africa set out to conquer German East Africa (present-day Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda). They were assisted by Belgian and Congolese troops operating from the Belgian Congo. The allies never subdued the German army led by Colonel (later General) Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, but they captured the German rail line and occupied much of the territory of German East Africa. At the conclusion of the war, most of the German colony was transferred to British control under a mandate from the League of Nations. This book by a young British author describes the territory in 1920, the year of its transfer to British control. The author, Ferdinand Stephen Joelson (1893-1979), became a prominent writer on African affairs and the founder and editor of the weekly newspaper East Africa and Rhodesia. British control of Tanganyika lasted until 1961, when the territory became independent. In 1964 it merged with Zanzibar to become the United Republic of Tanzania.

First published in 1920, this book is a comprehensive survey of the Tanganyika Territory, a former German colony in East Africa that was placed under British administration after World War I. The author examines the region's geography, climate, economy, and social conditions, and makes recommendations for its future development. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

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. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIX "GERMAN" EAST AFRICA As its name implies, it was German. That is to say, it contained a score or two of large and small bomas --all flying the German flag; some hundreds of plantations--all flying the German flag; some hundreds of schools, the scholars of which paraded with a German flag and sang the German National Anthem on highdays and holidays. Every caravan had its German flag, which flew over the tent of almost every European on safari. The Swahili text-books for natives contained pictures of the German flag. Kaiser Bill, Little Willie, and dates of the birthdays of all the Prussian princes-- data which may to the uninitiated Britisher appear of no earthly use to the untutored native, but Hundom thought differently. So Selemani, Saidi, Ali & Co. were blessed with true and abundant official information regarding the family of the All-Highest. The news was amplified and kept up to date in the local vernacular newspapers. But the protectorate was German in other respects. It boasted hundreds of coffee, rubber and sisal plantations, the owners of most of which were making little 1 Forts (Swahili). I THREATENED WITH A VISITING CARD 219 or no money just prior to the outbreak of war. During the rubber boom, many made money. During the same period, Customs returns showed an unprecedented increase in the imports of champagne and caviare. Practically each plantation had at least one good stone bungalow, not built primarily for the comfort of, or out of the fulness of the pocket of, the owner, but in order to impress the neighbours with his importance and his evident desire to do things in correct style. For the same reason every second plantation assistant in receipt of a monthly stipend of Rs. 150-- or thereabouts--had...