experience of travelling in Pullmans may be allowed to doubt whether these cars are most adapted to use in tropical countries.

The goods wagons are constructed to carry 10 and 20 tons.

For the traffic on Lake Tanganyika one steamer of 1,100 tons is already in course of construction at Kigoma, a second steamer is being built in Germany, and the provision of a third is in view but the cost has not yet been sanctioned. At present the traffic on Tanganyika is not of any great importance and probably amounts to less than 20,000 tons per annum. It consists of rubber and ivory, skins from Urundi, salt from Gottorp and European goods. It is handled by the German steamer "Hedwig von Wissmann and a Belgian steamer, two large German-owned dhows and a variety of small craft belonging to Indian and Arab dealers.

The total cost of constructing the Central Railway from Dar-esSalaam to Kigoma, including harbour construction and customs buildings on the lake, provision of steamers, expenses of rebuilding the main line, as well as a sum of 157,500l., first instalment of a reserve fund for future construction, amounts to 5,850,000l. The average cost per kilom. was 5,000l.

Railway extensions.-The total amount provided in the German colonial budget and already sanctioned for 1914 for railway extension in German East Africa was 1,840,000l., of which 850,000l. was the first instalment of a loan to the Deutsch Ost-Afrikanische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft for the construction of a branch line from Tabora to Ruanda, 270,000l. to the extension and improvement of the Usambara Railway, and the remaining 720,000l. to the continuation of the Central line from Tabora to the lake. It is estimated that the total length of the branch line Tabora to Ruanda will be 481 kiloms. and the total cost 2,357,500l., plus a sum of 142,500l. for surveying and improving the River Kagera, its tributaries and adjacent watercourses, together with provision of water-craft. Any savings on

the main line will also be devoted to the Ruanda branch line. The construction of this line will be commenced in 1914, and it is estimated that it will be completed in from three to four years. Its effect will be to open up the north-western districts of Urundi and Ruanda, which have not yet been thrown open to Europeans, and large quantities of native produce such as hides and skins, groundnuts, cotton, oil-palm kernels, &c., are expected to be carried by the new line from the thickly populated north-west, where a conservative estimate places the number of cattle at 300,000 in addition to sheep and goats.

A further sum of 107,500l. is provided as the first instalment of the cost of extending the northern railway between Tanga and Moschi to Aruscha, a distance of about 81 kiloms. The total cost of this extension is estimated at 307,500l. and it is expected that it will take two years to complete. The line will open up a region said to te suitable for white settlement.

Further sums of 100,000l. have been provided for the alteration and completion of the line from Tanga to New Moschi and 62,5007. for new rolling-stock and two cranes in Tanga.

Light railways, &c.-From Tengeni on the Northern Railway there is a light railway of 75 centims. gauge belonging to the Sigi Export Company, which runs for about 24 kiloms. into the Usambara Hills to Sigi, whence the Biological Institute at Amani can be reached in one and a-half hours.

From Mombo, on the Northern Railway, there is a daily connection with Wilhelmsthal, a healthy station in the Usambara Hills, by means of an automobile, which carries both passengers and goods. From the Station Mkumbara, on the Northern Railway, an overhead wire rail has been built for carrying timber, chiefly cedar, from saw mills in the Schume forest.

A temporary light railway has been constructed at Lindi, running for about 24 kiloms. into the interior to bring down the products from the plantations in the hinterland of that town to the coast.

Traffic. The amount of traffic on the Central (Tanganyika) line in the year was as follows :—

The number of trains despatched was 5,299 and the amount of building material carried in addition to above freight was 44,282 tons.

European plantation products. Rubber. The area under rubber cultivation in German East Africa increased from 81,705 to 112,257 acres in the year 1912 and the amount of rubber exported increased from 684 metric tons, with a value of 180,500l., to 1,017 metric tons, with a value of 362,0121. In addition to above acreage under Manihot glaziovii, there were 1,010 acres under various other rubber trees. At the end of 1913 there were not far short of 19,000,000 rubber trees in the Protectorate, of which about half were ripe for tapping. The approach of the crisis in the rubber industry due to the over-production of Eastern rubber was foreseen in 1912, but it fell, nevertheless, with unexpected suddenness on the plantations in German East Africa, and will prove a serious set-back to the promising economic development of the colony. The large plantations, with their heavy working expenses, are the worst sufferers, as it costs them about 2s. f.o.b. and 2s. 1d. c.i.f. to produce their rubber. The small planters, many of whom employ cheap local labour, can produce at less expense, and it is possible that they will weather the storm, but the outlook is not reassuring for the large plantations. In response to urgent appeals, a certain amount of assistance has been afforded by the Government, but it is unlikely that any official assistance will enable the planters to effect the very considerable reduction in the cost of production they will require if the price of rubber does not rise. Of this there seems small permanent hope. The improvement of the quality of the rubber exported by the establishment of a standard

quality and the planting of crops, such as beans, maize, &c., which yield quick returns, to supplement or even replace the rubber trees may afford the planters a way out of their difficulties, at least, temporarily.

Sisal. The acreage under sisal cultivation increased from 53,387 acres in 1911 to 61,877 acres in 1912. There are still large tracts of land suitable for this crop, but the extension of the area under cultivation has been checked by fear of over-production. The development of this crop has been very satisfactory from an economic point of view, as the growth of the planted area has been more or less proportionate to the increased demand for the fibre. Almost all the plantations. were in excellent condition and produced corresponding crops in 1912. Most of the exports were made to Germany.

Cotton. The cultivation of cotton by Europeans is still more or less in the experimental stage, but distinct progress has been made in the direction of a more scientific treatment of soil and crop, in which the planters are helped considerably by the Government experimental stations. The number of acres under cotton cultivation was in 1909-10 19,515 acres, in 1910-11 35,517 acres and in 1911-12 35,770 acres. The crops suffered much less from disease than in the previous year. The only districts where the growth of cotton has so far attained any importance are Mohoro, Kilwa, Lindi, Morogoro and Muansa. It has been practically abandoned in the northern districts and in Bagamoyo. The efforts made to discover and cultivate a variety able to resist the parasites and diseases to which the plant is liable have not yet met with full success, the question being complicated. by the fact that many districts are unfavourable for the Egyptian varieties but favourable for the Upland, particularly Nyassa Upland. In Morogoro the latter has met with marked success as compared with the Egyptian sorts.

On the whole, cotton is at present more important as a native crop than as a plantation product. No statistics are available as to the amount of raw cotton exported from the European plantations. Capok. The cultivation of capok continues to make good progress. The area planted is given below for the years 1910-12

Other fibre-producing plants.-No progress was made in the cultivation of Calotropis in 1912. Experiments in the cultivation of ramie were not attempted to any extent except by the "Palestine Germans" in Aruscha. Sanseviera (wild) was only exploited to a small extent in the districts of Wilhelmsthal and Muansa.

Silk.-The attempts of the African Silk Corporation to breed wild Anaphe caterpillars in the Bukoba district have not yet made sufficient progress to justify a final opinion as to their ultimate success. In Morogoro the genuine silkworms are being bred with good results.

Coffee. The cultivation of coffee shows a satisfactory progress, especially in the districts of Moschi, Wilhelmsthal, Bukoba, Aruscha and Langenburg. The quality of the coffee also shows signs of improvement, due to more careful preparation, and the planters are now directing their efforts towards establishing a standard quality in order to insure a good average price for the East African crop. The crop was good in the chief districts mentioned above. The area under cultivation was :-

The value of the exports increased from 63,300l. to 95,150l. The average price for the crop was 1 mark 21 pf. per kilo. as against 1 mark 8 pf. per kilo. in the previous year.

Cocoa. The area under cocoa cultivation was 300 acres in 1912, an increase of 50 acres on 1911. Only 175 of the acres were ripe for production, the export being 12 tons, with a value of 6991.

Tobacco.-Attempts have again been made to grow cigarette tobacco, but it is too early to predict their ultimate success or failure. The results of experiments at the Government station at Kibongoto, as well as those of planters in the districts of Moschi, Wilhelmsthal and Langenburg, are partly satisfactory.

Sugar cane. The area under cultivation of sugar cane by Europeans was only 345 acres.

Bananas.-Bananas are cultivated in the Moschi and Wilhelmsthal districts. In the former there is a constant demand, as this fruit forms the staple diet of the local tribes. In Wilhelmsthal an attempt is being made to grow banana figs, but there is no profitable market for this crop. The total area under banana cultivation was only 387 acres and the export 7 tons.

Pepper. The attempts to grow pepper have proved unremunerative.

Grain.-European cereals are not grown for export. Complaints are general of the damage to the crops caused by rust and by birds.

There were 1,165 acres under rice cultivation by Europeans in 1912 and the results are said to be satisfactory. The danger from ravages by birds has not proved so formidable as was anticipated, particularly as the long-grained variety is planted, which is not so liable to suffer in this respect.

Maize is grown as food for plantation hands, but it has not yet reached the stage of an export commodity, as the high cost of transport renders export unprofitable. Its cultivation is capable of great extension; there were 9,475 acres under maize in 1912.

Millet, especially sorghum, is grown, but only as food for native workpeople. There are large tracts of land available for the cultivation of this crop, which has excellent nourishing qualities, but there is little chance of it becoming an important article of export for some

time in view of lack of facilities of transport to the coast and high tariff rates by rail and sea, not to mention the import duty in Germany.

Potatoes, &c.-Potatoes are grown in the high lands on European plantations and missions with success, but high railway transport prevents the extension of the crop. Most of the potatoes sold in Dar-es-Salaam come from Nairobi.

Manioc is grown largely for native consumption.

Legumens.-The cultivation of legumens, especially beans, continues to gain in importance, particularly in Wilhelmsthal and Moschi, where the production was nearly double that of the previous year.

Oil-producing plants, &c.-The number of cocoanut palms owned by Europeans has further increased. In 1910 the number was 607,237 (153,076 bearing), in 1911 it was 699,568 (162,172 bearing) and in 1912 it was 784,458 (178,799 bearing). Several planters intend to introduce modern drying methods, which the Government regard with great favour in view of the educational value of such institutions for the natives.

The number of oil palms owned by Europeans was 9,610, of which 1,342 had reached the productive stage.

The attempt to cultivate sunflowers has begun and 70 acres have been planted.

Fruit and vegetables.-These are grown for private consumption and for local trade only. Many varieties of European fruits flourish side by side with tropical fruit in the high lands.

Native products. Copal.-The export of copal showed a slight increase in 1912, but it is improbable that this industry will develop to any extent. On the contrary, it is anticipated that the export will decline owing to the exhaustion of the copal deposits and the employment of the natives in more profitable undertakings. Exports were made to Germany, the United Kingdom and America.

Wax. The exports of beeswax increased in value in 1912, but showed a decrease in weight. This is to be attributed to the destruction of the bees in many districts owing to the increased activity of the natives and their crude methods of collecting the wax. Attempts are being made to educate them to more scientific methods, but progress is slow. No considerable increase in the exports can be expected in the next few years, as the demand for plantation hands. is growing and the number of people available for wax collecting decreasing in proportion. The average price rose in 1912 from 2 marks 24 pf. to 2 marks 39 pf. per kilo. for German East African wax, and this increase is due not only to the rise in the general market price but to the improvement in the quality of the article. Exports were made chiefly to Germany.

Wild rubber. The increasing demand for workpeople on European plantations and the prospect of greater profit from cultivating their own shambas has caused the numbers of natives engaged in obtaining wild rubber to suffer a decrease. The export in 1912 exceeded the unusually small export of 1911-173 tons, with a value of 55,950l., in 1912 as compared with 152 tons, valued at 52,915l., in 1911-but