Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of Nyasaland.

  • Colonial Office
Date:
[1933]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of Nyasaland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    who chose the site of the present town of Blantyre and established themselves in the Shire Highlands, while the Free Church applied itself to the evangelization of the inhabitants of the shores of Lake Nyasa. The Missions were followed by the African Lakes Corporation, and in 1883 Captain Foote, B.N., was appointed first British Consul for the territories north of the Zambesi, to reside at Blantyre. A serious danger had arisen in connexion with Arab slave traders who had settled at the north end of Lake Nyasa. At the time of Livingstone’s first visit he found the Arabs established in a few places on what is now the Portuguese shore of the Lake and at Kota Kota on the west side. Arab caravans, trading with the tribes in and beyond the valley of the Luangwa, were in the habit of crossing the Lake on their way to and from the sea coast. Opposition of the new settlers to the slave trade carried on by Arab coastmen and natives alike resulted in a conflict with the Arab traders under Mlozi, settled at the north end of Lake Nyasa, which spread to the Yao Chiefs, who were under their influence. In the summer of 1889, the late Mr. Johnston (afterwards Sir H. H. Johnston, G.C.M.G., K.C.B.), arrived at Mozambique as His Britannic Majesty’s Consul and proceeded to travel in the interior to inquire into the troubles with the Arabs. Treaties having been concluded with the remaining Makololo Chiefs and with the Yaos around Blantyre, Mr. Johnston proceeded up Lake Nyasa, leaving Mr. John Buchanan, Acting Consul in charge, who, after the first encounter between Major Serpa Pinto and Mlauri, a powerful Makololo Chief, proclaimed on 21st September, 1889, a British Protectorate over the Shire districts. In 1891, an Anglo-Portuguese Convention ratified the work of Mr. Johnston, Mr. Sharpe (now Sir A. Sharpe, K.C.M.G., C.B.), and other pioneers of British Central Africa, and in the following spring a British Protectorate over the countries adjoining Lake Nyasa was proclaimed. The Protectorate of Nyasaland, under the administration of a Commissioner, was confined to the regions adjoining the Shire and Lake Nyasa, the remainder of the territory under British influence north of the Zambesi being placed, subject to certain conditions, under the British South Africa Company. On 22nd February, 1893, the name of the Protectorate was changed to “ The British Central Africa Protectorate ”, but the old name “ Nyasaland Protectorate ” was revived in October, 1907, by the Order in Council which amended the Constitution. II.—GOVERNMENT. The Central Government. The Protectorate is administered by the Governor, assisted by an Executive Council composed of the Chief Secretary, Treasurer, Attorney-General, and Senior Provincial Commissioner. The laws