DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE JULIUS KLEIN, Director SPECIAL CONSULAR REPORTS—No. 85 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA ITS RESOURCES, INDUSTRIES, AND TRADE SAMUEL W. HONAKER United States Consul, Lourenco Marques PRICE, S CENTS Sold by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1923 U.A*J Vo ' CONTENTS _ Pag«. Letter of submittal. J _ iv ^Geography and climate...:. 1 Finances of the colonial government. 1 VRailwavs... 2 ^‘Minerals. 3 zr Agriculture. 3 Trade and commerce. 4 District of Lourenco Marques... 5 Wharf and harbor equipment. 6 Principal manufactures—Crops. 7 District of Gaza. 8 District of Inhambane. 8 District of Quilimane. 9 Operation of the prazo system. 9 Agriculture and principal products. 9 District of Mozambique. 10 District of Tete. 11 Territory of the Companhia do Nyassa...:. 11 Principal towns. 11 Chief products. 12 Foreign trade. 12 Territory of the Companhia de Mozambique. 12 Mineral production. 13 Agricultural possibilities. 13 Principal port—Improvements under way. 14 Cattle.J. 15 Pests and diseases. 15 Maize production. 16 Chief producing centers. 16 Principal port of export.;. 17 Other maize-growing sections. 17 Cotton industry. 18 Principal producing areas. 18 Production, 1920—Varieties grown. 19 Sisal industry. 20 Propagation and production. 20 Sugar,. 21 Varieties of cane grown. 22 Annual production. Province of Mozambique... 22 • Sena Sugar Estates. 22 Sugar interests of the Companhia Colonial do Buzi. *23 Other sugar companies. 24 Other native products.,. 25 Mangrove bark. 25 Tobacco. 26 Coffee. 26 Tea. 27 Rice.1. 28 Rubber. 28 Peanuts. 29 Cashew nuts. 30 Kapok and beeswax. 30 * iii I LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Washington , March 28, 1928. Sir: Submitted herewith is a report on the resources and trade of Portuguese East Africa by Samuel W. Honaker, United States consul at Lourenco Marques. The report contains much basic and special information that will be useful to American exporters of manufac¬ tured goods and importers of tropical raw materials. Respectfully, Julius Klein, Director. To Hon. Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Commerce . IV j PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA: ITS RESOURCES, INDUSTRIES, AND TRADE. GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE. Portuguese East Africa is now the most important of Portugal's remaining colonies. It is situated on the southeast coast of Africa and lies between latitude 10° 40' and 26° 24' south. It is bounded on the north, south, and west by growing British possessions and faces the Indian Ocean on the east. It has a coast line of 1,380 miles. The whole of this littoral is well indented and provides fair facilities for the growing trade of the interior. The principal harbors are at Lourenco Marques, Inhambane, Bartholomeu Dias, Beira, Quilimane, Angosta, Lumbo, Mozambique, Porto Amelia, and Ibo. The official designation of the entire territory, measuring 426,713 square miles, is the Province of Mozambique, so called from the old capital of the same name. It is administered by a High Commis¬ sioner, who exercises the functions belonging to the Central Govern¬ ment at Lisbon. It now has a constitution and a legislative council. The Province of Mozambique consists of the districts of Lourenco Marques, Gaza, Inhambane, Quilimane, Tete, and Mozambique, and also comprises the territories of the Companhia de Mozambique and Companhia do Nyassa, both of which exercise charter rights over the territory under their jurisdiction. The population of the entire territory is estimated at 3,437,844, of which the white inhabitants form only a very small percentage. The population by districts is given as follows: ‘Lourenco Marques and Gaza, 349,583; Inhambane, 414,654; Quilimane, 712,987; Tete, 396,437; Mozambique, 756,374; Companhia do Nyassa, 513,172; and the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique, 294,637. The climate of Portuguese East Africa varies from tropical in the north to subtropical in the south. The summer months are Novem¬ ber, December, January, and February, and winter embraces the months of May, June, and July. The maximum temperature in the shade at Lourenco Marques for November and December of 1920 and January of 1921 was 100.4°, 102.2°, and 100.19°, respectively, the mean temperature for the same months being 75.05°, 76.53°, and 77.21°, respectively. FINANCES OF THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. The revenue and expenditures of the Province of Mozambique for the fiscal year 1921-22 were estimated as follows for the territories directly under its administration (1 escudo = $1.0805 U. S. mint par): REVENUE. Escudos. Direct taxes and imports.T. 5,148, 000 Indirect taxes. 2, 960, 000 State property and other receipts. 2, 394,000 Receipts compensating expenditures. 333, 966 Receipts, specially marked. 2, 303, 670 Extraordinary receipts. 10, 000 Estimated surplus for the year. 600, 000 Total... 13,749,636 2 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. EXPENDITURES. Escudos. Civil and military personnel. 7,107, 891 Materials, house rents, etc. 1, 783,173 Loans, guaranties, and installments. 503, 859 Pensions.. \\. 100, 000 Subsidies. 61, 620 Payments in coparticipations. 305, 260 Missions. 384, 800 Sundry expenditures. 623, 010 Payments for account of previous years. 300, 000 Extraordinary expenditures. 2, 580, 023 Total.. 13,749,636 RAILWAYS. There are only 659 miles of railway in operation throughout the Province of Mozambique. The following table shows the railways in each district: Lourenco Marques .—Lourenco Marques to Ressano Garcia, 55 miles; Machova to Taba, 37 miles; Moamba to Chinavane, 57 miles; Languene to Marracuene, 19 miles. Gaza .—Chai Chai to Chicomo, 57 miles. Inhambane .—Inhambane to Inharrime, 56 miles. Quilimane .-—Main line, 46 miles; Nhamacurra to M’Cuba, 70 miles. Mozambique .—Main line (Lumbo), 58 miles. Territory of Companhia de Mozambique .—Beira to Umtali, 204 miles. i In addition to the above lines the Trans-Zambesi a Railway will be thrown open to regular traffic in the near future. The construction of this line is one of the most important railway developments which has taken place in the southern part of Africa in recent years. It was started in 1920, the contract having been awarded to a British concern in the sum of £810,000 ($3,941,865 at normal rate of ex¬ change). The line is to extend from a point about 18 miles from Beira on the Beira Junction Railway to a point on the Zambezi River opposite Chindio, which is the "terminus of the Central Afqca Railway. It will have a length of approximately 165 miles and will rise from almost sea level to 1,200 feet. It will also form part of a through route from Cape Town to Lake Nvasa via Bulawayo and Salisbury, Rhodesia. The Trans-Zambesia Railway will run entirely within Portuguese territory. It is, however, primarily a British enterprise and is being built for the purpose of opening up British Nyasaland. By the con¬ struction of this railway the latter territory will gain direct access to the sea through the port of Beira. This line will also exert a powerful influence on the rich country through which it will pass and will benefit materially northeastern Rhodesia and the district of Tete, which is believed to be highly mineralized. While all the railways of Portuguese East Africa are important factors in the economy of each district, the line running from Lou¬ renco Marques to Ressano Garcia to connect with the South African railways at Komatipoort is, at the present moment, absolutely essential to the well-being of the growing port of Delagoa Bay. The trade created in the Transvaal and passing over this railway consti¬ tutes the chief business of Lourenco Marques, in view of the unde¬ veloped state of the agricultural resources of this section of the country. This line of 55 miles is the chief artery in the transporta¬ tion to Johannesburg, the greatest gold-mining area in the world and the largest distributing center in inland Africa. It affords the PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 3 quickest and cheapest route from the coast to the eastern, central, and northern sections of the Transvaal, is the best adapted to serve the Witwatersrand with its huge import trade, and offers to the coal ♦ fields of the Eastern Transvaal an economic outlet for its millions of tons of coal. The Beira & Mashonaland & Rhodesia Railway has also played an important part in the development of the port of Beira. This railway provides an outlet for Rhodesian produce and affords a convenient port for the entry of manufactured goods of all kinds. It is also proving a powerful instrument in the steady development of a ter¬ ritory possessing great potential resources. The following table shows the revenue, tonnage, and passengers carried by the internal and combined railway lines for the period from 1913 to 1920, inclusive: Years. Revenue— Tons. Passengers. In pounds sterling. In U. S. dollars. 1 1913. £337,317 268,376 215,527 249,764 273,900 247,443 248,018 340,160 $1,641,553 1,306,052 1,048,862 1,215,476 1,332,934 1,204,181 1,206,979 1,655,388 1,055,278 922,975 775,852 1,071,933 1,142,931 1,444,952 1,047,438 1,463,054 168,503 156,707 172,936 . 267,296 245,317 262,664 287,704 320,512 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. 1 Conversion factor, $4.8665 to the pound sterling. MINERALS. There is very little information available of a definite and conclusive character regarding the mineral resources of Portuguese East Africa. The Province of Mozambique has not yet been surveyed geologically, although a certain amount of prospecting has been carried on from time to time in the more accessible places. From the mining point of view this country is practically virgin ground. Certain minerals, such as gold, silver, copper, tin, asbestos, and coal, are known to exist, and the country is generally reported as being rich in minerals, but the scarcity of capital and the smallness of the white population have militated against the development of this industry. Mining is confined almost entirely to the territory of the Companhia de Mocam- bique, in which the Macequece district is the best-known area. AGRICULTURE. Portuguese East Africa is known to possess vast sources of wealth in na ural resources, and the riches with which it is endowed very largely await development. Its soil is extremely fertile, and even with primitive methods of cultivation it produces excellent sugar, maize, rice, puza wheat, potatoes, roots, and all kinds of tropical fruit and vegetables. It is also rich in native timbers and hardwoods, such as ebony, manga, mukema or bloodwood, panga panga, and certain species of mahogany. The forests abound in woods suitable for the manufacture of furniture, and some are reputed to be well adapted for use as railway sleepers. 4 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. Sugar cane and maize are the principal agricultural crops. The former is produced all along the coast, as well as in the interior, but the best results are obtainable in the Zambezi Valley. Maize thrives in nearly every part of the Province of Mozambique. Many kinds of beans and vegetable oil-bearing products grow profusely in the central and northern districts, and already an important industry is beginning to arise in these highly useful products. The mafurreira, a large tree occurring over a wide belt, yields a considerable quantity of seed from which oil is produced. There are also a very large num¬ ber of coconut trees in the Province of Mozambique, especially near the coast in the district of Quilimane, and from the magnificent plantations, particularly those of the Companhia do Boror, an excel¬ lent grade of copra is being produced. This country is also an im¬ portant source of mangrove bark. Portuguese East Africa is essentially an agricultural and pastoral country. In addition to being favored with fertile lands for farming purposes, there are large areas covered with succulent grass, and in the cattle industry considerable progress has been made lately in spite of the difficulties to be encountered in a tropical and practically unsettled country. TRADE AND COMMERCE. The customs tariff is solely for the purpose of obtaining revenue. It applies to certain classes of exports as well as to imports. The same rates of duty are not always applied to each district of the Province. The districts of Lourenco Marques, Gaza, Inhambane, and Mozambique are grouped under one heading; Quilimane and Tete under another; and the territories of the Companhia de Mozambique and the Companhia do Nyassa have their own tariffs. Both specific and ad valorem duties are assessed. They are payable in gold. In addition to the customs duties proper, there are a number of minor charges, which are, however, slight in amount. The following table gives the number of ships and their tonnage and the tons of cargo passing through the customs ports of the Prov¬ ince for the periods mentioned: Years. Total number of ships. Tonnage. Cargo in tons. 1913. 1,910 1,718 1,334 1,671 1,916 1,286 1,373 1,750 4,006,794 3,694,771 2,123,053 3,150,357 3,419,180 2,108,979 2,149,483 2,959,453 453,555 325,752 225,948 258,974 241,814 182,195 172,027 150,239 1914. 1915... 1916. 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. The total value of the imports into Portuguese East Africa in 1920 amounted to $32,821,875, as compared with $43,678,931 in 1913, which is a decrease of $10,857,056, notwithstanding the greatly increased prices prevailing in 1920. That the United States is not an important factor in the trade of this market, and that it has much to gain in this respect, is clearly illustrated by the fact that its share of the total trade in 1913 and 1920 amounted to only $3,316,146 and $333,170, respectively. PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 5 The United Kingdom is the predominant factor in the trade rela¬ tions of the Province of Mozambique with foreign countries. A large percentage of its imported goods is also obtained from the mother country and the Union of South Africa. This Province trades to a smaller extent with other British possessions and the United States, France, Belgium, and Italy. Prior to the war Germany held a fair share of the trade of this market, and at present an endeavor is being made by the manufacturers of that country to regain a foothold in this territory. The principal imports into the Province of Mozambique are the following: Agricultural machinery and implements; electrical ma¬ chinery, equipment, and accessories; rails; tramway material; sugar machinery; hardware; bolts, nuts, and screws; wire; insulating wire; kerosene; gasoline; lubricating oils; cement; building material; lum¬ ber; paints and varnishes; iron and steel goods; nails; shoes for oxen; chains; rope; chinaware; earthenware; lamp ware; cutlery; glass and glassware; paper; mosquito netting; door knobs and locks; flour; lard; condensed milk; canned goods; bottled goods; beer; wines; spirits; confectionery; toilet articles; soap; perfume; butter; bags and burlap; leather and leather goods; boots and shoes; cotton goods; linen goods; woolen goods; hosiery; blankets; novelties, etc. The total value of exports from the Province of Mozambique, in¬ cluding the chartered companies of Mozambique and Nyasa, amounted to $18,396,523 in 1920, as compared with $5,711,070 in 1913. The principal exports were sugar, maize, copra, mangrove bark, and oil¬ seeds. DISTRICT OF LOURENCO MARQUES. Few parts of the African Continent are so full of promise and possess such potential sources of wealth as the Province of Mozam¬ bique. Of this vast territory Lourenco Marques is the capital and chief city. It is beautifully situated in the extreme southeastern part of the Federal district of the same name. The town is located on the northern bank of the magnificient estuary formed by the confluence of the Matolla, Tembe, and Umbeluzi Rivers. *It is the seat of the High Commissioner and the principal Government of¬ ficials, and from this point the whole of the Province under the direct administration of the State is controlled. According to the census of 1912, the city of Lourenco Marques and the neighboring vicinity had a population of 26,079, of which 5,560 were white people. The white population is now estimated to be between 6,500 and 7,000. Most of the inhabitants owe allegiance to Portugal, but an increasing number are of British descent. Situated only 50 miles from the Transvaal border and within striking distance of Swaziland, Lourenco Marques is the logical out¬ let of one of the richest sections of South Africa, the natural re¬ sources of which have hardly been touched. It possesses one of the finest harbors on the African coast. Delagoa Bay is 26 miles long and 22 miles broad, and into the lower part flow the Matolla, Tembe, Umbeluzi, and Maputo Rivers, while into the upper part the Inco- mati River discharges. No other port in the southern part of Africa has such magnificent waterways for the purpose of trade and pleasure. In fact, the geographical position of Lourenco Marques would seem to destine it 38125°—23-2 6 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. to become a port of growing importance as the foreign trade of the southern ana south-central part of Africa increases. For many years this city has been the natural port of entry for goods passing to the Eastern Transvaal and Witwatersrand district, and it has already developed into one of the most important coaling stations in this part of the African Continent. From Lourenco Marques coal is exported in many directions, and the ships of ipany nations call at Delagoa Bay to discharge cargo or receive bunker coal. The following table shows the shipping returns at the port of Lourenco Marques for the calendar year 1921: Nationality. American.. British. Danish. Dutch. Finnish.... French. German.... Greek. Italian. Japanese... Monaco Norwegian. Peruvian... Portuguese. Swedish.... Total. Arrivals. Departures. Number Tons of Number Tons of of cargo dis- of cargo vessels. charged. vessels. shipped. 6 4,896 8 5,035 388 127, 730 384 842,804 1 1,126 2 2,341 20 3,331 20 1, 551 1 2,750 1 950 7 1,349 7 4,860 19 5,809 18 13,362 1 1 7,100 9 129 8 11,626 7 5,555 12 48, 804 3 60 3 420 6 4,612 8 1 7,727 179 28,263 183 47,932 11 16,825 11 8,300 658 202,435 667 1,002,812 The following table shows the value in United States currency of the goods passing through the Lourenco Marques customhouse in 1914, 1919, and 1920: Items. 1914 1919 1920 Importation. $4,972,797 698,049 4,103,736 19,335,471 $14,046,493 3,657,27U 8,621,936 27,952,453 $15,820,187 5,340,173 11,849,648 132,605,094 Exportation. Reexportation. Transit. Total... 29,110,053 54,278,153 165,615,102 WHARF AND HARBOR EQUIPMENT. In order to provide for the increasing commerce which passes through this port, a modern wharf of ferro-concrete, costing in all approximately £500,000 ($2,433,250 at $4.8665 to the pound sterling), has been constructed, and plans are under consideration for the extension of the existing facilities. The wharf is a little less than 1 mile in length, and is capable of accommodating 12 large steamers at one time along its deep-water front. In addition to a transit shed and a national warehouse, there are 11 commodious sheds, measuring 60 by 30 meters (1 meter = 3.28 feet), for the reception of inward and outward cargo. The wharf is electrically lighted and is provided with four railway tracks. PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 7 The port is already equipped with 15 electric cranes, the largest of which has a capacity of 60 tons, and in anticipation of further com¬ mercial developments the authorities recently placed an order for 8 additional electric cranes, one of 10 tons and the remainder of 5 tons capacity. In 1915 a most efficient and modern coaling plant was placed at the western end of the wharf, costing in all approxi¬ mately £100,000 ($486,650), but as this plant, with a capacity of 600 tons per hour, has already proved insufficient to meet the increasing demands, a new tipper, large storage bin, and conveyor have been con¬ structed and will be installed at an early date. The new coaling appliance, which has a capacity of 800 tons per hour, is really a rotary tipper or car dumper, and it has been constructed to receive the largest coal truck in use on the South African railways. The cost is approximately £150,000 ($729,975). Tne following figures show the trade in Transvaal coal at the port of Lourenco Marques during the period from 1914 to 1921, inclusive: Years. For local consump¬ tion. Export and bunkers. Total. 1914. Tons. 24,844 30,557 43,980 Tons. 575,680 495,172 Tons. 600,524 1915. 525,729 815,423 1916. 771,443 1917. 42,753 812,094 854,847 787,909 835,785 1918. 29,729 26,803 758,180 808,982 1919. 1920. 21,634 21,027 1,137,000 1,116,918 1,158,634 1,137,945 1921. PRINCIPAL MANUFACTURES—CROPS. Manufacturing is carried on to a very small extent in the Lourenco Marques district. It is, in fact, confined to the production of mineral water, beer, vegetable oil, soap, tobacco, furniture, macaroni, sugar, ice, and baskets and other articles made of grass. The manufacture of furniture was started in 1921, and some progress is being made in this industry. The basis of the furniture industry is African ma¬ hogany, locally known as chamfuta. This wood possesses durability and fineness of grain and is singularly free of blemishes. A plant is also being erected for the manufacture of cement. Practically all other kinds of manufactured goods are imported, the principal sources being the United Kingdom, Portugal, United States, and the Union of South Africa. The district of Lourenco Marques contains fairly large areas of fertile land, which are highly suitable for the production of agricul¬ tural crops, the growing of fruit, and the raising of cattle, but unfortu¬ nately the farming industry is greatly underdeveloped. The principal crops are maize, cane, and beans, but even the cultivation of the for¬ mer product is commonly carried on in a primitive manner. An en¬ deavor is being made, however, to create a greater interest in agri¬ culture and to raise the standard of cultivation. In order to assist in this respect, there is an experimental farm of 2,223 acres, with 200 acres under scientific cultivation, at Umbeluzi, a short distance from Lourenco Marques. There is also a nursery at Namahacha, which is within 55 miles of this city. 8 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. Tropical fruit can be grown in abundance in the neighborhood of Lourenco Marques. Pawpaws, mangoes, bananas, lemons, oranges, and other fruits flourish in the district. A special effort is being made by the Incomati Estates (Ltd.) to produce oranges on part of their plantation, and already as many as 14,000 trees have been planted. The growth of these trees is magnificent, and, as excellent oranges are being produced, it is hoped that the successful efforts of this company will tend to encourage the investment of capital in the citrus industry. DISTRICT OF GAZA. Gaza, lying north of the district of Lourenco Marques, also faces the Indian Ocean on the east, but unfortunately it does not possess a good harbor. From the sea it extends to the Transvaal border, while on the north it reaches to the district of Inhambane. Gaza was created a civil district in 1918. The district of Gaza is traversed by the Limpopo River, which is navigable as far as Languene by steamers of 8 feet draft. The valley of this river is generally reputed to be very rich, and the soil is regarded as highly suitable for the cultivation of cotton, cane, rice, and other agricultural products. The Limpopo River has enormous flats, and the land in the vicinity is subject to floods. At the present time the Government has under contemplation an extensive scheme for the protection of the surrounding country, which if actually car¬ ried out would render available a large area of immensely rich land. There are only 57 miles of railway in the district of Gaza, and this consists of a line running from Chai Chai to Chicomo. Communica¬ tion with the interior is by means of roads, but there is no well-devel¬ oped system of highways in any part of the Province. The export trade is carried by means of coastal steamers to Delagoa Bay from Chai Chai, where there is a steady and increasing business with the interior in subtropical products. Excellent fruit is grown in Gazaland, and rice of a good quality is produced upon a small scale. Maize is also cultivated, but it is not grown in large quantities. A great part of Gazaland is admirably adapted to the raising of cattle. The district also contains a large variety of woods, some of which are being utilized. There is prac¬ tically no manufacturing, and very little is known of the mineral resources of the district. DISTRICT OF INHAMBANE. The district of Inhambane has an area of approximately 33,000 square miles. Its chief city, which bears the same name, is also the principal port, and is situated about 15 miles from the bar, where there are 17 feet of water at low tide and 29 feet at high tide. The bay is approximatley 9 by 5 miles and is regarded as a fairly safe harbor. The wharf is of ferro-concrete, measuring 379 feet long and 47.5 feet wide. It is capable of berthing ocean-going steamers. The total tonnage entering the port of Inhambane was 80,702 in 1920, while the outgoing tonnage was 80,758. Inhambane is essentially an agricultural district, but, as a rule, farming is not carried on in a scientific manner. The chief products are cane, maize, tobacco, beans, peanuts, castor beans, and coconuts. Mafurreira seed and mangrove bark are important exports, while cashew nuts are largely used for the manufacture of native drinks. PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 9 DISTRICT OF QUILIMANE. Quilimane is one of the most progressive districts of Portuguese East Africa. It is bounded on the south by the territory of the Companhia 'de Mozambique, on the north by the district of Mozam¬ bique, on the west by the district of Tete and part of Nyasaland, and it faces the Indian Ocean on the east. This district includes the whole of the lower Zambezi River and part of the higher stretches of this stream. The coast is low, a considerable part being swampy, but the ground rises in the interior until it becomes mountainous. The district of Quilimane has as its capital a town of the same name, which is situated on the left bank of the Rio dos Bons Signaes (River of Good Signs) at a distance of 12 miles from the bar at Tangalane. The entrance channels are plainly marked. The port is regarded as a safe one, and the harbor is available for ocean¬ going vessels, but landing is effected by means of launches and small craft. The town of Quilimane has between 3,000 and 3,500 people, the population consisting very largely of natives (colored people). Chinde is the other important port of the district. It is situated at the mouth of the Zambezi River, about 62 miles south of the town of Quilimane, with which it competes strongly. Chinde is the distributing center for a large volume of river traffic of the interior. It has a population of about 250 white people and 3,000 natives. The port nas a depth of 17 to 18 feet at high water. OPERATION OF THE PRAZO SYSTEM. A very large part of the district of Quilimane is controlled by agricultural and industrial companies under the “prazo” system. Under this system large areas of land are leased from the Govern¬ ment for comparatively long periods for a fixed annual rental based on the value of the native poll tax, locally called “musoco.” The lessee has the right of taxation, but not all land is taxed. In the remaining zones anyone is permitted to trade or obtain concessions as in the areas under the direct administration of the State. Some of the obligations imposed upon the lessee are the maintenance of schools and hospitals and the construction of roads. Commerce is completely free under the prazo system as it is worked to-day. The principal companies operating under the prazo system are the Companhia da Zambesia, Companhia do Boror, Empreza Agricola do Lugella, Companhia do Luabo, Sena Sugar Factory, and Societe du Madal. Most of these companies operate on a large scale. The Sena Sugar Factory is the largest producer of sugar in the Province of Mozambique. The Companhia do Boror is an important factor in the world’s output of coconuts, and the Companhia da Zambesia is becoming a factor in the production of sisal. The latter company also owns a large number of steamers and boats, by which it maintains a valuable river service between Chinde and Tete. AGRICULTURE AND PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS. . Agriculture is the principal industry of the district of Quilimane. There are large areas of fertile land. The richness of the soil is attested by the fact that nearly every tropical product can be cul¬ tivated, as well as a few adapted to a more temperate climate. The total production of the district is fairly large, considering the small- neks of the population and the undeveloped state of the country. 10 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. It is estimated that there are 60,000 hectares (1 hectare = 2.47 acres) under cultivation. The chief crops are cane, maize, and sisal. Cotton is being grown upon an increasing scale. A fair quality of tobacco is produced. Coffee is grown with some success, and a small quantity of tea is now being produced by the Agricola do Lugella (Ltd.). Kapok ( Erioden - dron anfractuosum) is being cultivated in the prazos of Lomue and Lugella. Peanuts grow especially well. They are produced chiefly by natives, who consume them as food and sell their surplus to traders for export. Sesame is also produced. The production of copra is one oi the most important industries of the district. The trees grow especially well, frequently attaining a height of 80 to 100 feet. Wattle bark is found in considerable quantities in the vicinity of rivers. Other agricultural products are beans, potatoes, manioc, and rice. There are also many kinds of tropical fruits which flourish, such as bananas, pawpaws, mangoes, cashew, guavas, pineapples, melons, etc. DISTRICT OF MOZAMBIQUE. The district of Mozambique is bordered on the south by the district of Quilimane, on the north by the territory of the Companhia do Nyassa, on the west by British Nyasaland, and on the east by the Indian Ocean. It has a coast line of about 210 miles, which is broken here and there by bays and inlets. The territory in the vicinity of the coast is low, but the land rises in the interior and attains a height of about 2,000 feet. This section of the district possesses a favorable climate. The chief town and port of the district is also known as Mozambique. For many years Mozambique was the capital of the Portuguese settlements in East Africa. Founded in 1508, Mozambique proved a stronghold to the Portuguese in the vicissitudes befalling their colonization of this section of Africa. The town is situated on a small coral island 3 miles from the coast. The harbor is protected by two smaller islands, on one of which is a lighthouse. It has a population of 300 white people and about 4,000 natives. Mozam¬ bique is an important distributing point for the trade of the interior. A considerable part of the exports of the smaller harbors are as¬ sembled there. North of the town of Mozambique is the fine bay of Mosuril, measuring about 2\ by 1} miles, on the shore of which are groves of coconut palms, while to the south is situated Lumbo, the starting point of the partially completed railway which is to extend to the Nyasaland border. When completed and connected with the British railways this line will afford the shortest route from the sea to one of Africa’s biggest inland bodies of water, namely, Lake Nyasa. Sixty miles south of Mozambique is the port of Angosta, which is available for small steamers only. Agriculture is the principal industry of the district. Although there are a few Europeans engaged in farming, agriculture is carried out very largely by natives. Natives do not cultivate large and continuous areas of land, but confine their cultivation of the soil to small patches of ground, which they work in a primitive manner. Nevertheless, the total production of the district is fairly large, for, in addition to supplying their own wants, a surplus is usually exported. PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 11 The chief crops are maize, peanuts, sesame, beans, and manioc. Coffee is grown upon a small scale, and there is a fair acreage under rice. There are various kinds of native woods, some of which are useful in the manufacture of furniture. The most important of these woods are mangue, mucruce, miconha, msinge, mbila, and macuna. DISTRICT OF TETE. Tete is the only district of the Province of Mozambique which does not touch the sea. It is the most westerly of all the districts, and on account of its isolated position it is but slightly developed. Communication with the coast is very slow, but it is expected that the new Trans-Zambesia Railway will have a material influence upon its future development. A considerable part of the district of Tete is situated upon a plateau, reaching a height of about 4,000 feet above sea level. In many places the district is well wooded. The soil is fertile. The principal industry is farming and cattle raising. Tete is also known to be mineral bearing. Gold, iron, copper, graphite, mica, and coal have been located. TERRITORY OF THE COMPANHIA DO NYASSA. The territory of the Companhia do Nyassa, sometimes referred to as Portuguese Nyasaland, is situated in the extreme northern part of Portuguese East Africa. Its area is approximately 73,300 square miles. It is bounded on the north by the former German colony of East Africa and on the south by the district of Mozambique. It is under the administration of the Companhia do Nyassa, a char¬ tered company having its headquarters at Lisbon. This company exercises absolute rights over the territory under its jurisdiction, except in regard to judicial and military matters. It has an author¬ ized capital of £1,000,000 in £1 shares, of which 436,530 shares have been issued. The seat of the government is at Port Amelia, but a few departments are still maintained at Ibo, the old capital. Portuguese Nyasaland has an estimated population of 513,172 people, of which the white inhabitants form a very small percentage. The natives are almost entirely Mohammedan in religion and have very few of the ordinary wants of the more civilized tribes. All of the towns of the territory are small. The chief trading centers and the largest European settlements are at Port Amelia and Ibo. PRINCIPAL TOWNS. Ibo, which is a very old town, was at one time prominent as a slave market. It is built on an island well covered with palms. It has a wharf, but the harbor is too shallow to accommodate vessels larger than small craft. The chief exports are castor beans, peanuts, sesame, manioc, ivory, wax, and a small amount of rubber. Port Amelia is situated about 50 miles south of Ibo, overlooking one of the most magnificent bays to be found anywhere on the African coast. It possesses a commodious harbor, and is so splen¬ didly protected that it is said to compare favorably with the re¬ nowned bays at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Sydney, Australia. This growing town is the natural port for an extensive interior which 12 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. possesses natural resources of great richness. As the wealth of this vast section of central Africa becomes available to the outside world the importance of Port Amelia will rapidly increase. CHIEF PRODUCTS. The principal industry of the country is farming. This is carried on almost altogether by natives, who cultivate small patches of ground here and there in the most primitive manner. There are, however, a few white farmers in the vicinity of the coast. All of the big plantations are controlled by companies, some of which have immense holdings. Labor is plentiful and extremely cheap. The chief agricultural products are maize, rice, beans, manioc, cashew nuts, calumba root, copra, copal gum, mangrove bark, oil seeds, tobacco, wax, and cotton. B6che-de-mer is also exported, as are ivory, raw rubber, hardwoods, turtle shells, and hippopotamus teeth. Maize grows throughout the country, while some of the coconut plantations near the coast are well developed. It is generally understood that most of the country is unsuited to cattle raising. This is principally due to the presence of the tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans). The cattle found near the coast are usually stunted, but this is not the case in the interior near Lake Nyasa, where fine herds are said to exist. Very little of a definite character is known in regard to the mineral deposits of this section of Africa. Outcrops of coal are said to occur on the Rovuma and Lugenda Rivers, and traces of gold have been found in various places. There is, however, no mining being carried on at the present time. FOREIGN TRADE. The total foreign commerce of the territory of the Companhia do Nyassa in 1920 amounted to 3,038,595 escudos, as compared with 1,113,543 escudos in 1919, 1,022,063 escudos in 1918, 982,450 escudos in 1917, 380,178 escudos in 1916, and 555,259 escudos in 1915. For customs purposes the gold escudo (equal to $1.08) is taken as the standard of value. TERRITORY OF THE COMPANHIA DE MOZAMBIQUE. The Companhia de Mozambique holds charter rights over the terri¬ tory under its jurisdiction by virtue of the decrees of 1891, 1893, and 1897. It is registered in Lisbon and has an authorized capital of £1,500,000, part of which is held by foreign individuals or concerns. The territory under its control measures 65,000 square miles. It extends from the Zambezi River on the north to latitude 22° south, and is bounded on the south by the Save River and on the west by Rhodesia. It faces the Indian Ocean on the east. The climate is warm. A great part of the territory is low lying, especially in the vicinity of the coast and along the rivers. About 100 miles inland from Beira the land rises perceptibly. Toward the western edge of the territory the climate is much more agreeable. The rainfall varies according to the section of the country, but in few places does it exceed 38 to 40 inches per annum. According to a statement recently issued, the receipts of the Com¬ panhia de Mozambique during 1920 were £336,545 and expenditures PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 13 £312,888, receipts for 1919 being £326,565 and the expenditures £238,201. The excess of receipts over expenditures for the two years was £112,020. MINERAL PRODUCTION. The territory of the Companhia de Mozambique is the only section in Portuguese East Africa where the mineral industry is developed, and the mineralized portion of this section is little known. The principal mining area of the territory is in the neighborhood of Mace- quece, where gold, silver, and copper are produced on a small scale. The total capital invested m mining throughout this territory is com¬ paratively insignificant. Gold is also found widely distributed in small streams, notably in the Revue River, and to a smaller extent in the Moribane, Mossurise, Maxire, and Lucite Rivers. Underground mining for gold is done on a very small scale at the Frienza mine, the total production of which in 1921 amounted to only $886. The principal alluvial work¬ ings are on the claims known as “Revue Alluvial,” where, in 1921, 5,973 ounces of gold were produced of a value of $122,088, plus $27,889 as premium on gold. The following table shows the gold production for the five-year period 1917-1921: Gold. • w. ' & £ \ * Years. Ounces. Value in pounds sterling. Value in U. S. currency. 1917. 9.286.45 5,591.67 £38,411 23,167 20,610 40,031 30,993 $186,922 112 742 1918. 1919. 4,126.70 7,605.35 6,015.00 100 298 1920. 194,810 150,827 1921. The production of silver is almost negligible at the present time, the total output in 1921 having amounted to only 502 ounces, valued at $326. Tin was discovered in this territory in 1919, but the mining industry has not yet developed into any importance. The only producers of tin in 1921 were the Manica Tin Mines (Ltd.) and the Palbromur Mines (Ltd.), Miich obtained 1,303 and 4,262 kilos, respectively. Copper is found in the Macequece district. At the present time there are no workings of importance other than the Edmundian Mine, where the total production in 1921 amounted to 1,250 tons. Coal is believed to exist in considerable quantity on the Zambezi River, and for the purpose of exploiting these are^s the Zambezi Mining Development Co. was recently formed. There are known coal measures at Sena, which is also an important point for the production of sugar. AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES. The agricultural possibilities of the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique are enormous. The soil is very fertile, being friable and easily worked. It often runs to a depth of 20 feet or more. As a rule, the drainage is natural, and in many places it approaches perfection. 38125°— 23-3 14 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. The principal crops are sugar and maize, but other agricultural products are gradually being cultivated upon a growing scale. The cultivation of sisal was started in 1920. A small acreage is now being devoted to wheat. Cotton is being produced upon a small but in¬ creasing scale. This is also true of rice. Peanuts are grown by Europeans as well as by natives, and an oil factory is being erected to deal with the surplus crop, part of which is consumed by natives. Other crops are tobacco, coffee, beans, sunflower seed, potatoes, and various kinds of vegetables and fruit. PRINCIPAL PORT—IMPROVEMENTS UNDER WAY. Beira, the capital of the territory administered by the Companhia de Mozambique, is the principal port and town. It has a population of approximately 8,400, about one-eighth of whom are Caucasians. Built on a stretch of sand, Beira is situated at the mouth of the Pungue River, and is favorably located from the viewpoint of trade connections, having a vast but undeveloped interior. It is 7,574 miles from Southampton via Cape Town and 7,678 miles via the Suez Canal, and 528 miles distant fromLourenco Marques. At present Beira affords fair facilities for vessels calling at that port. There is good anchorage with 5 fathoms of water at a distance of 150 feet from the shore. The harbor is protected by a sand bank, which is exposed at low tide. The channel is marked by luminous buoys, and vessels drawing 24 feet can enter at high tide. Although the extensive works necessary to place Beira in the list of fully equipped deep-water ports along the East African coast have yet to be initiated, considerable improvements are under way. The pier is being extended, and the coordination of all harbor, customs, and railway activities, which the port has greatly needed for many years, is gradually taking place. The coming of the Trans-Zambesia Railway has demanded a complete alteration in the port system, as the inland traffic will be handled directly instead of being carried by rail to and from the Zambezi at Chindio, by river steamers to and from Chinde, and by coasting vessels to and from Beira. Following are the shipping returns at the port of Beira for the year 1920: Nationality. American. British.t Dutch. Italian.. Japanese. Norwegian —.. Peruvian. Portuguese. Spanish. Swedish. Total. • Arrivals. Departures. Number Tons of Number Tons of of cargo dis- of cargo vessels. charged. vessels. shipped. 2 512 2 470 265 82,830 263 140,614 1 1 4,500 14 486 14 1,220 1 1 3,750 6 1,537 5 4,173 1 1 350 100 2,432 100 7,984 1 1 4,600 5 4,921 4 1 396 92,718 392 167,662 The total value of the foreign commerce at the port of Beira in 1920 amounted to $44,944,705. The items were: Imports, $7,884,456; exports, $4,776,038; reexports, $20,339,040; and goods in transit, PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 15 $11,995,171. Of the total value of imports the United Kingdom and possessions furnished $4,499,507; Portugal and possessions,$1,469,907; Rhodesia, $869,311; Belgium, $367,913; Sweden, $248,330; and the United States, $204,673. Following are the principal countries to which the exports of this territory were forwarded: Portugal and possessions, $1,548,718; United Kingdom and possessions, $1,282,783; Rhodesia, $1,240,282; Belgian Kongo, $259,725; and the United States, $41,172. CATTLE. There are no statistics showing definitely the number of cattle in the whole of Portuguese East Africa, but the total number is esti¬ mated to be in excess of 200,000. The Lourenco Marques district contains approximately 105,000 head of cattle; Gazaland, 46,000; Inhambane, 4,000; Quilimane, 7,500; and Tete, 26,000. Estimates for the remainder of the Province are not available. Portuguese East Africa contains large areas of land which are suit¬ able for the grazing of cattle, but the industry has been seriously handicapped by diseases and pests. There is excellent pasturage in the districts of Lourenco Marques and Gaza, and Tete offers advan¬ tages in the raising of cattle. In many places long succulent grass is to be found for a great part of the year. Some of the districts are well watered. The conditions are favorable in the districts of Lourenco Marques and Gaza for the development of the cattle industry upon a much larger scale than is the case at present. Considerable progress has been made in the cattle industry in various parts of Portuguese East Africa in recent years in spite of the difficulties pertaining thereto. A few companies and individuals have lately taken up grazing land in the more favorable sections, and it is expected that an increasing amount of money will be invested in this industry. The basis of all local breeding is the native cattle, which are small but extremely hardy in type. An effort is being made, however, to improve the native strain by interbreeding with cattle imported from the Transvaal, and fairly good results have been obtained. PESTS AND DISEASES OF CATTLE. The most prevalent and destructive diseases occurring in this country are East Coast fever, which is transmitted by ticks; red water fever, which is practically the same as Texas fever; and a disease caused by the Trypanosoma, a living parasite running free in the blood. Red water fever exists throughout this district, but it is by no means as destructive as one would imagine on account of its wide occurrence. Practically all of the animals of the district get this disease during the first few months of their lives, but very few of them die, as it does not usually kill animals 6 months of age or under. Once they have had the disease, cattle obtain what is known as “passive immunity.” For these reasons only bulls born and reared in South Africa can be transferred from place to place with any degree of safety. All pure-bred animals imported from Europe must be kept free of ticks. They are usually inclosed behind mosquito netting. Anthrax exists in certain parts of Portuguese East Africa, but it is probably not so prevalent as in the Transvaal. Another disease is that known as gall sickness, which is caused by ticks. This disease is not very prevalent, and only in isolated cases is it commonly fatal. 16 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. Dipping .—At present there are 12 public and 16 private dipping tanks in the district of Lourenco Marques and 4 in Gazaland. Dip¬ ping in the public tanks is compulsory for cattle within a certain radius, usually of about 7\ miles. Only Europeans are required to pay for dipping, the cost of which is 2 centavos (considerably less than 1 cent in United States currency). No charge is made for cattle under 6 months of age. MAIZE PRODUCTION. Farming is the chief industry of the people of Portuguese East Africa, and maize is the principal agricultural product. More people are engaged in the production of maize than in any other enterprise, and every producer of agricultural products devotes a certain area to maize. It is grown in every district of the Province of Mozam¬ bique. Its cultivation is by no means confined to European farms in the vicinity of white settlements, but extends to the most remote places, where it is produced solely by natives for the purpose of con¬ sumption. Maize forms the chief food of over 3,000,000 natives, or by far the greater part of the population of the entire country. CHIEF PRODUCING CENTERS. The principal centers of production are the territory of the Com- E anhia de Mozambique and the districts of Quilimane and Mozamb¬ ique, although a considerable acreage is devoted to the crop in the districts of Inhambane, Tete, and Gaza, as well as in the territory under the administration of the Companhia do Nyassa. Farms are widely scattered. There are no statistics of production, this being due partly to the fact that maize is produced by almost every native family, for whom it constitutes a vital source of food. A large acreage is devoted to the cultivation of maize in the terri¬ tory of the Companhia de Mozambique. While it is grown in fairly large quantities by natives chiefly for their own use, it is cultivated principally by European farmers for export. The farmers are mostly of Portuguese nationality and secondarily of British descent, although there is a small number of Greeks engaged in this occupation. The land is rich and well adapted to the cultivation of maize, and large crops are obtained, especially in the Chimoio, Manica, Neves Ferreira, and Buzi districts. In the Chimoio district considerable areas are planted to maize, and as many as 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) may be seen in one unbroken stretch of land. The total pro¬ duction of maize in the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique in 1920 amounted to 385,282 bags (1 bag equals 203 pounds), of which 254,000 bags (51,562,000 pounds) were exported. The average production per acre amounts to approximately 12 bags (2,436 pounds). There are, however, individual instances of as many as 20 bags or more having been produced on a single acre of ground. A large percentage of the maize grown in this territory by white farmers is exported to European markets. In order to compete in the continental markets, farmers have endeavored to raise the stand¬ ard of local maize, and the result of these efforts has been to improve the quality. White maize is produced chiefly, two of the principal varieties being Hickory King and Natal White Horse. PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 17 PRINCIPAL PORT OF EXPORT. Beira is the principal port for the exportation of Rhodesian maize, as well as that produced in the territory of the Companhia de Mozam¬ bique. The export of this product from Beira forms one of the chief businesses of that port, besides being a large source of revenue to the Beira & Mashonaland & Rhodesia Railway, the principal artery of communication at the present time for a wide area. All maize destined for export to European countries is properly graded and certificated at the port of Beira, where many ships call for the purpose of obtaining maize as cargo. The Companhia de Mozambique has also assisted greatly in building up the export trade in maize from this country by providing a disinfecting and sterilizing plant, the capacity of which is from 400 to 500 bags per day. In 1921 there were 1,076,753 bags (218,580,859 pounds) of maize exported from the port of Beira, of which 678,877 bags (137,812,031 pounds) were from Rhodesia and 397,876 bags (80,768,828 pounds) from the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique. The following table shows the export of maize through Beira from the two territories in question for the period from 1917 to 1921, inclusive: Years. Companhia de Mozam¬ bique. Rhodesia. Bags. Pounds. Bags. Pounds. 1917. 119,267 50,688 112,008 254,564 397,876 24,211,201 10,289,664 22,737,624 51,676,492 80,768,828 207,955 79,598 345,653 340,601 678, 877 42,214, 865 16,158,394 70,167,559 69,142,003 137, 812,031 1918. 1919. 1920. 1921. Total. 934,403 189,683,809 1,652,684 335,494, 852 OTHER MAIZE-GROWING SECTIONS. Maize is also produced in the district of Quilimane, but it does not form such an important crop as in the territory of the Com¬ panhia de Mozambique. It is grown partly for export and partly for local consumption. The principal companies producing maize are the Companhia de Zambesia, Companhia do Boror, Empreza de Lugella (Ltd.), Sena Sugar Estates, and the Societe du Madal. Most of the large companies have fairly modern machinery for milling cereals. In addition to the districts of Mozambique, Tete, and Inhambane, maize is also cultivated in the districts of Gaza and Lourenco Marques. Maize grows well in Gazaland. It is produced in fairly large quan¬ tities, but its cultivation has been handicapped to some extent by floods. Several attempts have been made to grow maize on the rich flats of the Limpopo River, but improper methods of cultiva¬ tion have not enhanced the successful growth of this plant. Primi¬ tive methods of cultivation also exist to some extent in the district of Lourenco Marques, where the crop is grown largely by natives. There are, however, a few European farmers producing maize in the Lourenco Marques district, but on the whole the quality of the local product is not nigh. The total production of the latter district does not meet the local demand. 18 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA, The following table shows the export of maize from the principal ports, excluding Beira, in 1913 and 1920 (1 kilo =*2.2046 pounds): Ports. • 1913 1920 Kilos. Value. Kilos. Value. Lourenco Marques.. 307,172 5,340 $9,974 85 5,124,256 593,408 409,962 6,603,229 $185,822 16,027 14,194 407,152 Inhambane. Chinde. Mozambique. 4,521,172 73,242 Total. 4,833,684 83,301 12,730,855 623,195 The export duty on maize is 2.25 escudos gold ($2.44 U. S. mint par) per 1,000 kilos. COTTON INDUSTRY. Portuguese East Africa contains large tracts of land which are highly suitable to the growing of cotton, and in several sections con¬ ditions are admirable for its cultivation upon an extensive scale. In the district of Lourenco Marques there are wide stretches of land capable of producing excellent cotton, but cotton growing has never been carried out in this part of the Province except for experimental purposes. The territory extending from the Incomati River, near the capital city, is reputed to be admirably adapted to the production of cotton upon a scale favorably comparable to that of some of the leading cotton areas of the United States. This section of Portu¬ guese East Africa is very fertile, and it needs only capital and strong directive effort to turn it into a highly productive district. It is within easy reach of the coast, where good shipping facilities are available. PRINCIPAL PRODUCING AREAS. In spite of the favorable conditions tending to promote the de¬ velopment of a large cotton industry, the total production of the country is very small. At present the cultivation of cotton is restricted almost entirely to the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique and the districts of Quilimane and Tete. The territory of the Companhia de Mozambique constitutes the chief cotton section of the Province, and in this area the cultivation of cotton is practically confined to the delta of the Zambezi River. In few places are the conditions more admirable for its favorable growth. The soil in the immediate vicinity of the delta is comparable to that of the Valley of the Nile, while farther away there are huge tracts of great fertility which have not yet been cultivated even in the most primitive manner. Cotton is grown chiefly by natives in the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique. It is customary to apportion to each available family a certain area within striking distance of their kraal. Cotton¬ seed is distributed to each planter, who is required to clear the land, sow the seed at proper distances, and to cultivate the land during the growth of the crop. An endeavor is made in this district to plant cotton in accordance with the height of the land above the river. On the higher alluvial lands it is planted at the end of January; on the medium lands, PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 19 where water remains for a few weeks, it is usually planted between the middle and end of February; and on the lowlands, which are subjected to annual floodings, cotton is generally planted about the end of March. The subsoil of the cotton lands generally contains a fairly large per cent of humus, and about 18 inches from the surface there often exists a fair amount of clay. The soil throughout is porous, and in no part does there exist an impervious stratum of clay which might cause stagnant water. However, the soil and subsoil usually have the power of retaining moisture during the dry season. Cotton planted in January is usually picked toward the end of June and the beginning of July. As a rule, the cotton continues to keep on bearing, and the picking season actually covers a period of four months. Fields are generally cleaned by the 1st of November. The stalks are burned, the soil is properly hoed up, and the fields are then ready for the next planting. Native women and children are employed principally in the picking of cotton, although male labor is also used to some extent. The amount of cotton picked by each person is very small, ranging from 10 to 25 kilos (22 to 55 pounds) per day. There is apparently very little competitive effort on the part of native pickers. Consequently the gathering of the crop is very slow, notwithstanding the amount of effort actually expended. It is customary to weigh cotton near the scene of picking. It is then transported by road or river to the central ginnery, where it is ginned and baled, and then put on river barges, from which it is transshipped at Chinde and Beira, and thence forwarded to European markets. The average production per acre varies according to the season and the care and attention devoted to the crop. A fair average is esti¬ mated to be 250 pounds of lint per acre. PRODUCTION—VARIETIES GROWN. In 1920 the total production of the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique amounted to 1,000 tons of ginned cotton. The district of Quilimane, which is also one of the prominent cotton-growing areas, is estimated to have had 7,000 hectares (17,297 acres) under cultiva¬ tion in 1920. On the whole, the production of cotton varies con¬ siderably on account of rainfall. The principal varieties of cotton are Allen’s long staple, Nyasaland upland, and a local variety. Nyasaland upland is really a mixture of Allen’s long staple and Egyptian cotton. In the early days of cotton cultivation in Africa the first cotton grown in Nyasaland was an Egyptian variety. To a very large extent this variety failed, and Allen’s long staple was introduced from the United States. The two varieties were allowed to grow more or less side by side in a haphazard manner, and as a result a cross fertilization took place. After years a fixed type was produced, possessing some of the qualities of the Egyptian cotton and some of the excellent characteristics of Allen’s long staple. The fixed type is known as Nyasaland upland. It is recognized for its length and strength of staple as well as for its excellent luster. Under normal conditions the price of this cotton on the Liverpool market is generally about a halfpenny higher than American middling. 20 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. SISAL INDUSTRY. The cultivation of sisal in Portuguese East Africa is of compara¬ tively recent date. Sisal hemp (Agave rigida sisdlana ) was introduced into East Africa from Mexico in about 1893. Almost from the first the conditions seemed to favor its growth, and now it promises to become one of the most important industries of the Province of Mozambique. The largest plantations in East Africa, if not in the whole world, are located in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. A fairly large amount of capital has already been invested in this industry, and, as a steady development is gradually taking place, the production of sisal should assume important dimensions m the near future. The principal sisal plantations are located in the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique and the district of Quilimane. There is also land under the cultivation of this product in the Mozambique district, as well as on Government territory near the Zambezi River. The Companhia da Zambesia, which is one of the largest concerns operating in Portuguese East Africa, has an extensive plantation in the Quilimane district, on which there are approximately 7,000,000 plants. This company has a fiber factory at Aguas Quentes, near Vila Bocage, in which modern machinery is being employed. The Companhia do Boror also cultivates sisal extensively in tbe Quilimane district, where it has a factory for the preparation and packing of fiber. Another concern which nas commenced to cultivate fiber upon a fairly large scale is the Empreza Agricola do Lugella (Ltd.). Sisal does not require rich alluvial soil in order to obtain the best results, but, on the other hand, it is a fallacy to suppose that it can be grown to the best advantage on extremely poor soil. Very rich soil is considered, in fact, to be detrimental to its proper growth. Excessive growth must always be guarded against. It causes the plant to “pole” before its allotted time, and “poling” results in the loss of two or three cuttings. Good results have been obtained in the growing of sisal upon land which had once been covered with trees or thick brush. The plant also grows well on soil of a sandy or even stony nature, but it should contain a fair percentage of humus. Drainage is usually regarded as an important matter. A clay sub¬ soil, which retains stagnant water, is said to affect adversely the growth of the plant. PROPAGATION AND PRODUCTION OF SISAL. Sisal is propagated from bulbils and suckers. Bulbils form on the flower pole. Sometimes there are as many as 2,000 to one plant. They represent a young plant and can be placed in the nursery, usually about 18 inches apart, as soon as they have fallen from the flower head. They attain sufficient growth in about eight months to permit them to be set in the plantation. Bulbils can always be relied upon to grow true to type. Their growth is regular, and all plants “pole” at the proper time, which is usually in the seventh year. On the other hand, suckers spring up with great irregularity. Suckers are really young plants springing up from the roots of the parent plant. Even around the same plants suckers of every ^ize and condition can be found. Plants produced from suckers also “pole” irregularly. PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 21 On good ground there are approximately 680 plants to the acre, while on land of a poor grade tne number is about 1,200 to the acre. When mature the leaves should yield, on an average, from 2j- to 4 per cent of fiber. One producer in this district states that a con¬ servative estimate would be 3.5 per cent of fiber, especially if modern machinery be employed. The following is a rough estimate of pro¬ duction furnished by Mr. Heron, formerly director of agriculture for the Companhia de Mozambique: The first cutting yields 2.5 tons of fiber per hectare; the second cutting, 2 tons; the third cutting, 1.5 tons; and the fourth cutting, 1 ton of fiber per hectare, a hectare being the equivalent of 2.471 acres. The fiber is extracted by means of decorticating machinery. The capacity of the machines used in this country is usually about 3 tons of fiber per 10 hours. The first machine used in the Province of Mozambique was the Krupp’s Corona, but it has now fallen into disuse, owing to the great amount of fiber lost in extraction. A machine manufacturea by a firm in Lincoln, England, then came into use. The Robey machine has since proved very popular. The extraction of fiber involves a considerable expenditure on machinery, and it also necessitates the use of a great quantity of water. The cost of production differs in each district of Portuguese East Africa, owing to economic conditions. A conservative estimate can not be given at the present time. It is, however, lower than in British Africa, where a considerable quantity of fiber is produced. Sisal is exported almost entirely to the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and France. The following figures show the exports from the principal ports in 1920 (1 kilo = 2.2046 pounds): Ports. 1920 Kilos. Value. Lourenco Marques. 250,500 916,700 724,936 $48,903 199,714 117,365 Chinde.*.. Quilimane. Total. 1,892,136 365,982 An export duty of 2 per cent ad valorem is imposed on sisal hemp. SUGAR. The cultivation of sugar cane is one of the oldest and most important industries of Portuguese East Africa. Cane was found growing wild in Manikaland many years ago, and it is highly probable that it was cultivated there at the time the ancient mines were being worked. The industry progressed very slowly until within recent years, but is now firmly established and promises to become an increasing factor in the economic development of the country. In the Province of Mozambique a large number of acres are under cultivation, and a still greater acreage is held in reserve for future development. The principal centers of production are along the Zambezi River, in the neighborhood of the Buzi River, in the vicinity 22 PORTUGUESE EAST AERICA. of Beira, and in the districts of Inhambane and Ouilimane. Cane is also grown to a smaller extent in Qazaland and in the district of Lourenco Marques, where the industry presents great hopes of devel¬ opment, owing to the increasing amount of capital that is being invested in this section, which is favorably situated for a large export trade. VARIETIES OF CANE GROWN. There are between 30 and 40 varieties of cane under cultivation throughout Portuguese East Africa, but the Yuba predominates. Many different varieties of soft cane, especially the better grades of South and Central America and the West Indies, have been experi¬ mented with from time to time. Results over a long period of time have shown, however, that the Yuba is the cane best adapted to the conditions existing in this country. In fact, this cane is universally employed in planting along the East African coast. It has been known to give as many as 12 ratoons and still be capable of further production. Yuba is one of the hardiest varieties of cane known. It is strong, and consequently will withstand a certain amount of flooding. It stands erect and is fairly easy to harvest in contrast to soft cane, which readily falls down when subjected to floods or winds. Being of a hardy type, Yuba does not require as much water as many other canes. On the other hand, it contains a large amount of fiber, which when burned leaves a comparatively large amount of ash. Owing to climatic conditions favoring its growth, cane may be cut each year. Three or more cuttings are nearly always obtained from Yuba cane. It generally requires about 12 tons of cane to make a ton of sugar. The yield of cane per acre in this territory averages 33 to 40 tons. ANNUAL PRODUCTION, PROVINCE OF MOZAMBIQUE. The annual production of sugar in the Province of Mozambique is estimated to be approximately 50,000 tons. Owing to the vagaries of a tropical climate the crop time varies. Along the Zambezi it occurs from May to December, while in Inhambane, a few hundred miles south, it loses a month at each end. Sugar is produced principally by large companies owning or hold¬ ing concessions over a considerable area of land. The chief produc¬ ing concerns in the Province of Mozambique at present are the Sena Sugar Estates, Companhia Colonial do Buzi, Mutamba Sugar Estates, Incomati Sugar Estates, and the Movene Sugar Estates. SENA SUGAR ESTATES. Cane and maize are the chief products grown in the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique, but cane production is the more highly centralized industry. The sugar interests of this section of the coun¬ try are controlled very largely by a few concerns. One of the largest concerns operating in the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique is Hornung & Co., of London and Lisbon. This concern, which is incorporated under the name of the Sena Sugar Factory (Ltd.), operates upon a very large scale. It has two large plantations at Marromeu and Vila Fontes (Caia) on the southern bank of the Zam¬ bezi River, in the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique, and another plantation of considerable size at Mopea on the northern V PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 23 bank of the Zambezi River, in territory belonging to the Portuguese Government. This company has approximately 7,000 acres of land under sugar¬ cane cultivation at Marromeu, which is on the Zambezi River about 50 miles from the port of Chinde. The soil is rich alluvial, and, as the coastal rains provide sufficient moisture, irrigation is not required to any extent. The plantation is intersected by a compara¬ tively large mileage of narrow-gauge railway. It is equipped with modem machinery and accessories. There is also an up-to-date Norit refinery, which is capable of producing the finest white crystals. The total production of sugar on this plantation amounted to 15,915 tons in 1921. The plantation at Vila Fontes (Caia) is also situated on the Zambezi River. It is approximately 100 miles from Chinde by river. There are between 8,000 and 9,000 acres under cultivation, a great part of which is irrigated by pumping from the river. The plantation has 75 miles of narrow-gauge railway and a modern factory. The total production of sugar at Vila Fontes in 1921 amounted to 10,567 tons. The plantation at Mopea, which is approximately 75 miles from Chinde by water, is one of the oldest in Portuguese East Africa. In addition to about 25 miles of narrow-gauge railway there is a factory for the grinding of cane and the production of sugar. The total output in 1921 amounted to 12,193 tons. The soil is extremely rich alluvial. This whole area is subject to backwater floods, which occur about once in every five or six years. As a rule, the backwater floods do not damage the crops to any great extent, as the water remains only a few days. Each time very rich alluvial silt is deposited. The vSena Sugar Factory (Ltd.) employs approximately 120 white men and 12,000 natives on its three plantations. Natives are paid 10 to 15 shillings per month. The houses of the manager and white employees are of brick and splendidly built. The offices and houses are inclosed by mosquito- proof netting and are equipped with electric lights and fans. Each plantation has its own club, which includes music, reading, billiard, and social rooms. Adequate tennis and recreation grounds are also provided, as well as a storage plant and repair shops, which are complete in every respect. SUGAR INTERESTS OF THE COMPANHIA COLONIAL DO BUZI. The only other sugar interests of importance in the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique are owned by the Companhia Colonial do Buzi. This company nas two plantations opposite each other on the Buzi River, at a distance of 15 miles from the growing port of Beira. The two plantations were formerly owned separately, but were amalgamated in 1920 through the purchase of the lllovo Estates by the Companhia Colonial do Buzi, a Portuguese concern, for approximately £420,000 ($2,043,930). A large amount of money has been spent on the lllovo Estates. A modern mill, capable of producing about 12,000 tons of sugar per annum, is located on this plantation. There are between 3,000 and 4,000 acres of rich alluvial land under cultivation, and a large acreage is being held in reserve for future development. Part of the land of this estate is swampy during the rainy season. 24 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. The factory on the other plantation of the Companhia Colonial do Buzi is not of modern type, and therefore the crushing of cane is done on the Illovo Estates. The cost of production is comparatively high, owing to the triple handling of cane from one side of the river to the other, and also on account of labor conditions. OTHER SUGAR COMPANIES. Sugar is also produced in the Inhambane district, where the indus¬ try is represented chiefly by the Mutamba Sugar Estates. The total production of this plantation in 1921 amounted to over 2,000 tons of sugar. Preparations are also being made for the erection of a sugar mill in the fertile Inhassune Valley. The cultivation of sugar cane offers great possibilities in the Lourenco Marques district by reason of favorable climatic and geographical conditions. Not only does this district offer unique shipping facilities to Europe and India, but it borders the eastern section of the Trans¬ vaal, which has been a fairly large consumer of Mozambique sugar in the past. A market for sugar exists, therefore, right at the door of this district. The terms of the Mozambique convention provide for the free entry of the products of tlie soil into the territory of the contracting parties, namely, the Province of Mozambique and the Transvaal Province, and if the present provisions are readopted at the forthcoming convention between the two countries this industry should be greatly stimulated. There are only two companies cultivating sugar in the Lourenco Marques district, namely, the Incomati Estates (Ltd.) and the Movene Sugar Estates. These companies are financed by British capital and are managed by British subjects. The plantations of both companies are in the process of development, and within a reasonable time they should become important factors in the sugar industry of this country. There are 125,000 acres embraced in the Movene Sugar Estates. This huge tract of land is situated within 35 miles of the city of Lourenco Marques. A branch line of the Caminho de Ferro de Lou¬ renco Marques (Lourenco Marques Railway) runs within a short distance of the property. At present there are only 1,000 acres under the cultivation of cane, but the plantation is capable of immense development. The existing plant, which was erected in 1920, is not a modern one, and it is the intention of the company to replace it as soon as circumstances warrant this step. The total production of sugar in 1921 amounted to 600 tons. The Incomati Estates (Ltd.) are situated near Xinavane, at a distance of 110 kilometers (68.2 miles) from the city of Lourenco Marques by rail. The plantation embraces 50,000 acres. There are 3,000 acres under the cultivation of cane, and it is the intention of the company to increase this area to 7,500 acres. The plantation contains rich alluvial soil of considerable depth, but certain parts of it are subject to floods. To protect the land from floods, works are in process of construction that will cost approximately £100,000 ($486,650). This will allow a larger area to be devoted to the cultiva¬ tion of sugar, maize, or other agricultural crops and of citrus fruit. The total production of sugar on this estate amounted to about 1,500 tons in 1921. PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 25 The aforementioned sugar companies constitute one of the most vital factors in the trade and commerce of Portuguese East Africa. They are not only large producers of raw material and refined goods, but they create one of the largest demands existing in the whole of Portuguese East Africa for manufactured goods from foreign coun¬ tries. Besides directing to a great extent the purchases of a large number of natives by furnishing them with articles demanded by them, they are purchasers in big quantities of material required in running the factories and plantations. Some of the imports by the sugar companies are as follows: Sugar-mill and sugar-harvesting machinery; implements; agricultural machinery and tools; light rails; trucks; hardware; bolts, screws, and nuts; electrical material and equipment; insulated wire; lamps and lamp ware; kerosene and gaso¬ line; chemicals; drugs and medicines; engines; material for boats and tugs; and paint and varnish. OTHER NATIVE PRODUCTS. MANGROVE BARK. Mangrove bark is found in various parts of Portuguese East Africa. In many of the bays and inlets red and white mangrove bark exists in considerable quantities. It is obtained principally in the districts of Quilimane, Inhambane, and Mozambique, as well as in the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique. At present Beira, Chinde, and Quilimane are the chief ports from which mangrove bark is exported. Beira is the main distributing center of the industry, as it is the seaport of the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique, which is gradually regaining its pre-war importance as a source of mangrove bark. In this territory there are two companies working under concessions. One of these is the Com¬ panhia Agricola da Beira. This concern has a plant on the Savanne River, approximately 25 miles from the port of Beira, which is valued at £40,000 ($194,660 at normal rate of exchange). This plant is capable of treating 40 tons of green bark per day. The total amount of bark collected and in stock at the end of 1920 amounted to 3,619 tons, but unfortunately a great part of this stock was recently de¬ stroyed by fire. Mangrove bark is collected by natives, who are paid from 10 to 20 shillings ($2.43 to $4.86) per month. The bark is usually stripped by hand from the trees. It is placed in piles near the scene of collec¬ tion and then transferred to the river shore, from which it is trans¬ ported to the factory or port of shipment. Trade in mangrove bark .—Prior to the European War the trade in mangrove bark was largely in the hands of the Germans. At the ports of Beira, Mozambique, Quilimane, Arfgosta, and Bartholomeu Dias bark was collected chiefly for shipment to Hamburg, to be used in German tanneries, and it was difficult for American firms to obtain direct shipments to the United States. From Hamburg a small part of the mangrove bark of this country was reexported to the United States. In 1920 there was a decided turn in this trade in favor of the United States, which became the most important consumer of bark from Portuguese East Africa. In that year there were shipped to the United States, chiefly from the port of Beira, 5,550 tons oi man¬ grove bark, valued at £106,994 ($520,686 at normal rate of exchange). 26 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. Mangrove bark to the value of $14,712 was also forwarded to the United States from the port of Mozambique in 1920. Statistics for 1921 are not yet available. There is an export duty on mangrove bark amounting to 1 escudo gold ($1.08) per 1,000 kilos. TOBACCO. Tobacco is grown in various parts of the Province of Mozambique, but in no part is it extensively cultivated. It is produced upon a small scale in Gazaland, Inhambane, and the territory of the Com- panhia de Mozambique. It grows well in Tete, and it is also culti- ' vated in the region south of Lake Nyasa. One of the principal producing districts is Quilimane. The chief varieties are Gold Leaf, Warne, Conqueror, Oronoco, Virginian, and a Turkish type. The manufacture of tobacco is very largely confined to the city of Lourenco Marques, although there are several small factories scattered in the other districts. There are three companies manu¬ facturing tobacco in Lourenco Marques, namely, Sociedade Colonial de Tabacos, Ltd. (Fabrica Nacional); M. E. George & Co., Ltd. (Empreza dos Tabacos); and Eduardo David e Silva. The two concerns first mentioned manufacture cigarettes of good quality, which are consumed very largely in the town. They are also exported to the Union of South Africa. The last-named factory produces cigarettes primarily for export to the Portuguese West African coast. These factories utilize local leaf almost entirely. In 1920, 315,848 kilos of tobacco, valued at £157,924 ($768,537 at normal exchange rate), were manufactured in Lourenco Marques. The following figures show the value of the tobacco exported in 1913 and 1920: Ports. 1913 1920 Lourenco Marques. $10,297 995 3,888 $337,741 301 24,512 590 1,486 15,818 Quilimane. Mozambique. Porto Amelia. Total. 15,180 380,448 The following table gives the value of the imports of tobacco at the principal ports: Ports. 1913 1920 Lourenco Marques.. $110,927 32,228 52,153 $376,599 72,091 54,499 Other ports. Total. 195,308 503,189 COFFEE. Coffee is grown in every district of the Province of Mozambique, with the exception of Lourenco Marques, Gaza, and Tete. There is, however, very little capital invested in the industry, which, in the aggregate, is small. There are no big plantations, and coffee is, in fact, produced principally with a view of supplying the local PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. 27 demand. It is nearly always grown in conjunction with other crops, few planters attempting to cultivate it mpon modern scientific plans. As a rule, the quality of the coffee is fairly good. In the Quilimane district encouraging results have been obtained, especially in the subdistricts of Maganja da Costa and t 41to Molocue. Coffee is also a common product of cultivation in the Mozambique district, and is grown upon a small scale in Inhambane, as well as in the terri¬ tory of the Companhia do Nyassa. In 1913 the Companhia de Mozambique started a series of experiments in the cultivation of coffee near Macequece at a height of about 2,000 feet above sea level. From these experiments a bean of excellent flavor was obtained, and now many farmers have added coffee to their list of agricultural produce. Although coffee was introduced into Portuguese East Africa many years ago, evidently by Arab or Indian traders, its culti¬ vation is by no means sufficiently extensive to meet the demands of this country. In 1920 there were imported 66,687 kilos of coffee beans, valued at $133,322, as against 43,068 kilos, costing $18,538, in 1913. The following figures show the quantity and value of imports of coffee at the principal ports, exclusive of Beira: Ports. • 1913 1920 Kilos. Value Kilos. Value. Lourenco Marques. 36,101 778 2,045 1,502 2,642 $15,143 400 1,185 724 1, 0.86 61,512 $122,032 Inhambane. Chinde. 2,959 662 1,554 7,679 1,523 2,088 Quilimane. Mozambique. Total. 43, 068 18,538 66,687 133,322 TEA. Tea is produced upon a very small scale in Portuguese East Africa. There is only one plantation of any importance in the Province. This plantation is owned by the Empreza Agricola do Lugella, and is situated in the Prazo Milonge (Vila Masseti), in the district of Quilimane. It is approximately 180 hectares (445 acres) in extent. Tea is obtained almost entirely from British possessions, chiefly Ceylon, India, and the Union of South Africa. Only small quantities are imported from China and Japan. The following figures show the quantities and values of imports of tea at the principal ports in 1913 and 1920: Ports. 1913 1920 Kilos. Value Kilos. Value. Lourenco Marques. 22,427 4, 457 2,678 3,455 6,411 $14,415 3,008 3,004 2,499 3,931 20,683 319 1,686 3,807 9,843 $80,165 2,091 5,569 13,465 33,683 Inhambane. Chinde. Quilimane. Mozambique. Total. 39, 428 26,857 36,338 134,973 28 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. RICE. Rice is grown in the districts of Gaza, Quilimane, Tete, and Mozambique, as well as in the territory of the Companhia de Mozam¬ bique. The production of rice is upon a larger scale in Quilimane and Mozambique than elsewhere in the Province, but the quality is not highly regarded, and consequently the local rice is consumed very largely by natives. On the other hand, a very fair grade of rice is produced in Gazaland, but the quantity hardly suffices to meet the local demand. In the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique an increasing acreage is being put under the cultivation of rice, and a considerable increase in production is expected in the near future. There are several mills in this territory, as well as in the districts of Mozambique and Gaza. The Companhia de Mozambique recently installed additional machinery in one of its mills. The local production of rice by no means meets the demand. It is one of the most important diets of the people of East Africa. Besides being eaten to a large extent by white people, it is also an important food for natives. The chief sources of supply are India and Por¬ tuguese possessions. The following table shows the imports of rice in 1913 and 1920 at the ports mentioned: Ports. 1913 1920 Kilos. Value. Kilos. Value. Lourenco Marques. 3,419,928 313,752 255,426 564,211 532,229 $221,732 23,521 17,335 34,662 39,486 632,350 19,491 27,017 6,590 34,620 $463,785 7,646 25,497 4,348 34,057 Inhambane. Ohindft. Quilimane. Mozambique...... Total. 5,085,546 336,736 720,068 535,333 The increase in local production, and especially the material rise in the price of rice, is responsible for the decrease in the imports of 1920 as compared with those of 1913. The consumption of rice fell off con¬ siderably, owing to the necessity of the people to restrict their pur¬ chases of products for which a substitute could readily be found. In the case of rice the substitute was principally maize. RUBBER. Many attempts have been made in recent years to exploit the rubber vines which undoubtedly exist in various parts of Mozambique, and more than one endeavor was made to establish plantations with a view to producing rubber upon a commercial basis, but practically all of them have ended in complete disaster, and not one has been notably successful. These endeavors were not confined to any one section, but ranged from the districts of Gaza and Inhambane to the territory of the Companhia de Mozambique, and even beyond Angosta. For a time it seemed as if the first efforts of planters would be successful, but after a promising growth of two or three years the flow of latex almost invariably stopped, and success was turned into failure. The one exception was in the case of the Boror Co., which had a plantation PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA, 29 near Villa Pereira, about 80 miles from Quilimane. This company planted 750,000 trees upon a favorable site under the guidance of experienced and qualified men, and the trees were cared for in a highly scientific and modern manner. Prior to and during the war this company paid expenses, but has since been operating at a loss. Vines yielding rubber are to be found in many parts oi Portuguese East Africa. Although the greater number of the rubber vines belong to the Landolvhia JcirJcii class, there are other varieties, such as the Landolphia delagaensis and Landolvhia mgscarenhasei. Huge forests still exist in Inhambane, Gaza, and Mozambique, where the rubber vines can be seen hanging down the trees in great numbers. They f row from the soil, climb up the tree, and then hang down from the ranches. They have frequently a diameter of 5 and 6 inches, and the average can be taken as 2\ to 3 inches. At the time raw rubber was obtained in this country native labor alone was employed. The native climbed the tree upon which the vines were hanging and tapped the bark of the vine with a blunt instrument. The latex exuded slowly and coagulated upon exposure to the air. The coagulated product was then rolled upon a stick of 4 to 5 inches in length until a roll weighing 3 to 4 ounces was obtained. Then another part of the vine was tapped and the process continued in the same manner as just stated. Owing to the slow exudation of the latex the bucket was not used in this country for collection as in Brazil. The method employed was very slow, and as only 6 to 7 ounces per day could be collected, it was very expensive. However, during the prosperous period of 1909 and 1910 all of the natives available were employed in connection with rubber collecting, and at that time the exports amounted to several thousand pounds sterling per annum. PEANUTS. There are no statistics which indicate the approximate acreage under the cultivation of peanuts in Portuguese East Africa, and no data available for estimating total production of this product. How¬ ever, it is generally known that peanuts are grown throughout Portu¬ guese East Africa and that the total yield is worthy of consideration. The plant thrives extremely well in various parts of the Province, especially in the districts of Chai Chai, Inhambane, and Mozambique, and to a lesser extent in the country surrounding Lourenco Marques. The peanut industry is also growing in importance near Beira, and that city may be regarded as the principal market of this product. Peanuts are grown almost entirely by natives, who plant patches here and there over wide and unsettled areas. A very small percent¬ age of the natives’ crop actually reaches the market, as it is either consumed by them as food or is fed to animals after having been S ounded into a sort of cake. In the more thickly settled areas en- eavor is being made to cultivate peanuts upon a fair scale with the aid of native labor under the supervision of white men. A great part of the output obtained in this manner is also consumed as food, but at least 15,000 tons are forwarded each year to foreign markets. The methods of cultivating and harvesting peanuts in Portuguese East Africa is still very primitive. • A very large part of the work connected therewith is performed by hand. Labor is extremely cheap, and for that reason the use of machinery is limited. There 30 PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA. are, however, a few plows and shellers scattered throughout the country. These are principally of American manufacture, and are to be found on estates near trading centers and along the coast. The chief variety of peanuts grown in Portuguese East Africa is known as the “Virginian bunch/' and is to be found on native settle¬ ments in the interior as well as on farms along the littoral. The soil of the Province is very rich in nearly all parts, and, as the climatic conditions are favorable for the growth of vegetable products, there is hardly any reason why almost any variety of peanuts suitable to tropical conditions should not be grown very successfully. In any event, the yield of peanuts in this Province under proper cultiva¬ tion is estimated to be about 1,000 kilos per acre. Peanuts are exported chiefly to France and also to England, Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. Prior to the war Germany obtained a fair percentage of the peanut crop of this Province. CASHEW NUTS. The cashew nut is found throughout Portuguese East Africa, The tree is of a large, spreading type, with leaves of a fairly good size. In the district of Lourenco Marques, where there is a considerable num¬ ber of these trees, the fruit ripens in January and February. The fruit is used chiefly by the natives for making alcohol, while the nut, which grows outside of the fleshy fruit, is employed to a small extent as a substitute for almonds in connection with the manufacture of confectionery. It has an excellent flavor. The nut is valuable for the fine oil which it contains, but very little use is made of it in this respect. There is no export trade in this article, as the fruit is eaten prin¬ cipally by natives and the trees are insufficient in number and' so scattered as to preclude a big business being developed. KAPOK AND BEESWAX. Kapok is derived from a tree of the same name, which produces a vegetable down, employed in stuffing cushions. The fact that kapok is light and impervious to water has led to its use in life-saving cloth¬ ing. The Empreza Agricola do Lugella (Ltd.) has 350 hectares (865 acres) under cultivation in the district of Quilimane on which it has planted 35,000 plants. These plants have not yet reached a full state of maturity. Exports of beeswax from the principal ports in 1913 and 1920 are shown in the following table: Ports. 1913 1920 Kilos. Value. Kilos. Value. Lourenco Marques. 5,144 39,299 30,420 18,321 6,922 68,696 $3,558 21,976 13,550 7,777 2,731 36,993 39,110 6,350 28,765 5,393 17,149 23,180 $28,306 4,983 20,714 4,296 13,746 12,218 Inhambane. Chinde. Quilimane.. Mozambique. Beira. Total..*_ 168,802 86,585 119,947 84,263 o