The Difficulties of Development
The greatest drawback to the systematic development of the Cameroons is the naturally bad means of communication as regards both roads and waterways. The country being largely of steppe-like formation, the rivers are frequently interrupted by rapids and waterfalls. The chief rivers, the Munga, Wuri, and Sanaga, are only navigable by steamers for a distance of seventy kilometres. Beyond this point, litter-transport has to be employed, and as bearers can only carry loads of 60 to 70 lbs. for a distance of from twenty to twenty-five kilometres a day, and as the distance from Duala, the coast station, to Central Cameroon is a thirty days’ journey, and to Lake Chad twenty days’, few products, except ivory and rubber, can bear this expensive means of transport. The most important tasks before the Government which is entrusted with the future of the Cameroons is the amplification of the means of communication, the encouragement of native civilisation, the exploitation of the economic resources of the valuable hinterland, and the extension of the plantation system. The enormous physical difficulties in the way of railway construction must not be under-estimated. The country is covered with colossal tropical growths, which must be cleared, the plague of sleeping-sickness must be stamped out, and the dreaded tsetse fly banished. In such regions railway building is arduous and costly, but not until the rich regions hitherto unreached have been brought into communication with the coast, will the Cameroons begin to profit by its “unlimited possibilities.”
PROFILE OF CAMEROON.
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Profil I. Von Kribi über Lomle nach Wesso am Ssanga.
Profil II. Von Lomic über Kunde-Ngaumdere-Garua zum Tschad.
Profil III. Durch das Mandara-Gebirge zum Logone.
Profil IV. Durch die Massivregion von Adamaua von W. nach O. zum Benuë-und Kebbi-Gneisland.
Profil V. Vom Kamerunberg über Tinto und das Kumbohochland nach Garua.
I. From Kribi through Lomie to Wesso on the Ssanga.
II. From Lomie through Kunde, Ngaumdere, Garua to Tschad.
III. Through the Mandara Mountains to the Logone.
IV. Through the Peak Region from Adamaua in the W. to Benue and Kebbi Gneiss Region in the E.
V. From Cameroon Mountain through Tinto and the Kumbo Highlands to Garua.