Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume VIII, No. 5 [‎45v] (93/154)

496
RAILWAYS IN AFRICA.
costly an undertaking, then it would be most advisable to carry on the railway
beyond that obstacle. This might be done by prolonging the line along the banks
of the Nile, or by adopting an entirely different route from Suakin through Kassala.
I hope we shall hear something from Sir Charles Wilson as to the relative merits of
these proposals during the course of our proceedings. Proposals have also been made
for connecting the Nile with other ports on the Red Sea, and all of these suggestions
should be carefully examined before a decision is made as to the exact route to be
adopted. But in any case, considering the matter merely from a geographical
standpoint, and putting politics on one side—a very large omission in the case of
the Sudan—it would appear that one or other of these routes should be one of the
very first to be constructed in all Africa.
Passing further south, it is obvious from the configuration of the shore, and
from the distribution of the population, that the lines of communication next to
be considered are those leading to the Victoria Nyanza, and on to the regions lying
north and west of the lake.
Two routes for railways from the coast to the Victoria Nyanza have been pro
posed, one running through the British and the other through the German sphere
of influence. Looking at the matter from a strictly geographical point of view,
there is perhaps hardly sufficient information to enable us to judge of the relative
merits of the two proposals. Both run through an unhealthy coast zone, and both
traverse thinly inhabited districts until the lake is reached. The German route,
as originally proposed, would be the shorter of the two ; but there is some reason
to think that the British line will open up more country east of the lake, which
will be suitable for prolonged residence by white men. Sir John Kirk, in discussing
the question of the possible colonization of tropical Africa by Europeans, said,
“ These uplands vary from 5000 to 7000 feet in height, the climate is cool, and, as
far as known, very healthy for Europeans. The district is separated from the
coast by the usual unhealthy zone, which, however, is narrower than elsewhere on
the African littoral. Between the coast zone and the highlands stretches a barren
belt of country, which attains a maximum width of nearly 200 miles. The rise
is gradual, and throughout the whole area to be crossed the climate is drier and
the malarial diseases are certainly much less frequent and less severe than in the
regions further south.” These very advantages, however, may have to be paid for
by the greater difficulty of railway construction. Putting aside future prospects,
the map shows that the populous region to the west of the lake makes either of
these proposed lines well worthy of consideration, though it would perhaps be rash
to predict how soon the commerce along them would pay for the interest on the
capital expended. What will be the fate of the German project I do not know, but
we may prophesy with some confidence that the British line, the construction of
which has been commenced, will be completed sooner or later.
The two lines of communication we have discussed—the Suakin and the Victoria
Nyanza routes—are intended to supply the wants of widely separated districts ; but,
looking to a more distant future, they must sooner or later—probably later—come into
competition, one with the other, in attracting trade from the Central Sudan. Before
this can occur, communication by steamboat and by railway must be opened up
between the coast and the navigable Nile by both routes. This will necessitate a
railway being constructed, not only to the Victoria Nyanza, but also from that
lake, or round it, to the Albert Nyanza; and, as the Nile is rendered unnavigable
by cataracts about Dufile, and as the navigation is difficult between Dufile and
Lado, here also a railway might be necessary in order to complete the chain of
steam communication with the coast. If goods were brought across the Victoria
Nyanza by steamer, and taken down the Nile in the same mann c r from the Albert