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Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1924, Page 2

In' a relent work, “A Woman Alone,” Miss Etta Close describes her wanderings in Kenya, t'ganda, and Belgian Congo. The author went to Africa intending to stay for three months, and stayed for eighteen. Indeed, she almost stayed forever, in consequence of a bad attack of malaria, but she bears the country no malice on that account. Mombasa was her jum):in;*-off place, and she spent some time in Nairobi (according to all who have been there a “jolly,” friendly, little town), which she made a centre for various expeditions round about. Her account of life in Kenya («bere the Duke and Duchess of York are going on holiday) is interesting for there they aie trying with some success, the experiment of the settlement of a tropical country by white people. The altitude makes the climate not unpleasant: native labour i.s obtainable, but a settler who hopes fo gel on must have some capital. Leaving Cgauda. Miss Close crossed Lake Albert, the source of the Nile, the secret of which so long baffled explorers and reached Kaseiive, in Belgian Congo. This, although its name is writ large on tile map, actually consists <>l three bouses, and is about as lonely a spot as call in’ imagined. It lias a permanent European population of one, an odiciai who had lived there for 10 years, for the most part entirely alone, lie lias magistrate, port officer. doctor, and a host of things besides. Tn bis capacity as doctor lie lias plenty to do. for while sleeping sickness has '.ecu almost stamped out in British territory, it is very prevalent in the Congo. Miss Close accompanied him on bis rounds in the sleeping sickness ltosj ital. and it was a harrow ing expei ience. 'I ravellcrs speak well of the Belgian methods of colonial administration in the Lower Congo, but the author was not great!v impressed with what she saw in this mil. of the way department. Everything was stagnant. Apart from the scattered odicials, the only Europeans were Belgians engaged at the gold

mines at Kilo and Aloto. These go home as soon as their eonlracts expire, and even if they wish to remain in the country, there is no inducement for them to do so, for the Coveriinieiit dis. courages small traders and settlers although only by these cut the country be developed. Miss Close believes that if the mines were shut, down the Belgians would quit the Eastern Congo forthwith, and that in a few yea is it would rein| se into the condition in which it. was when Livingstone lii'H went there.