to me particularly well adapted for the cultivation of this
crop. The soil was excellent, a fine friable black mould.
The Giryama village I had specially come to visit was
right in the forest, and the largest I had yet seen. The
head-man, by name Toyo Wabakulo,, appeared most intelligent.
On mentioning my idea of making a small experimental
plantation at Jelori, where the people could come and
see the new products cultivated and obtain seeds, etc., he
was much interested in my scheme and offered to look
out and find a suitable piece of land for the purpose. This
head-man accompanied me back to the camp, and in the
afternoon (September 23) I held an important “ shauri ” with
eight of the principal Wa-Giryama head-men of Jelori,
including Toyo Wabakulo and Kizomba.
I entered fully into the nature of my mission in the
country, and said that now I had seen and examined it, I
felt sure that many new products could be grown. I added
that I was going to suggest to the Company the establishment
of an experimental plantation here, where cultivation
of new products would be introduced, and where they could
come and see and learn for themselves ; that seeds would be
supplied to them (instancing tobacco), and that eventually the
leaf of the new variety would be bought from them. I asked
them whether if this was done they could supply the labour
required. They replied most eagerly that they would, and
wanted to hear when I would begin— in fact, they all
appeared to be most interested in the matter, and said they
would most 'gladly cultivate any new products, provided a
sale of the same was assured them. I promised that this
would be done, asserting that the Company was most desirous
to see their country developed and their people prosperous
and happy. I then distributed some good tobacco-seed
among them, telling them to grow it quite apart from their
own. - The Wa-Giryama around Jelori alone number over
three thousand; they are intelligent, industrious, and keen
agriculturists; their blacksmith’s work too is remarkably
i good. They make their own hoes, and I was shown some
[ necklets of iron of remarkably good manufacture.
I see no reason why this tribe should not be induced to
H