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.” [Illustration: PLATE 1 DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 2. THE QUAY AT DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 3. LANDING-PLACE AT DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 4. POST OFFICE, DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 5. COURT HOUSE AT DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 6. HOSPITAL AT DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 7. NATIVES’ METAL WORK.] [Illustration: PLATE 8. THE BÂLE MISSION AT DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 9. WORKSHOP OF THE BÂLE MISSION, DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 10. MANGA BELI’S PALACE, DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 11. THE NATIVE QUARTER, DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 12. BUSINESS OFFICES IN DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 13. NATIVES WOOD CARVING.] [Illustration: PLATE 14. THE WOERMANN FLOATING DOCK AT DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 15. LANDING JETTY.] [Illustration: PLATE 16. CONSTRUCTING THE CENTRAL RAILWAY FROM DUALA TO THE NYONG RIVER.] [Illustration: PLATE 17. VIEW OF THE WURI RIVER AT BONABERI.] [Illustration: PLATE 18. THE WURI RIVER ABOVE DUALA.] [Illustration: PLATE 19. ELEPHANT GRASS.] [Illustration: PLATE 20. BUEA, FORMER SEAT OF THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT OF CAMEROON. GREAT CAMEROON MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND.] [Illustration: PLATE 21. VIEW OF BUEA.] [Illustration: PLATE 22. THE LATE GERMAN GOVERNOR’S PALACE, BUEA.] [Illustration: PLATE 23. BUEA.] [Illustration: PLATE 24. ALGAU CATTLE GRAZING NEAR BUEA.] [Illustration: PLATE 25. GRAZING LAND NEAR BUEA.]