Chapter 72: Tobacco Growing
In Mashulu Town, located in Kenya's Central region, the East African colonial government decided to embark on tobacco cultivation after conducting on-site inspections of the newly explored area.
Tobacco, a crop that thrives in warm climates and requires ample sunlight, found East Africa's climate and moderate precipitation ideal for its growth. Mashulu Town, situated 90 kilometers southeast of Nairobi, was chosen as the site for this endeavor, thanks to the presence of an unnamed river running north-south.
The initial group of immigrants to arrive in Mashulu numbered just over 30 people. They were led by a German named Anthony, who had also brought along five immigrants from the Austrian Empire and more than 20 Chinese workers.
Anthony, having grown up in Europe, had been surrounded by the lush beauty of North German agricultural estates and forests throughout his childhood. Now, standing amidst the vast African grasslands, he couldn't help but be awed by the grandeur and mystery of nature.
The Austrian Empire immigrants, most of whom were experiencing Africa for the first time, were even more profoundly affected by their surroundings. The Austrian Empire was known for its mountainous terrain and simple rural life, and many of these immigrants had never ventured far from their villages before. The stark contrast between their homeland and the African landscape left them in awe.
The Chinese immigrants, while not as taken aback as their European counterparts, still found the expansive grasslands to be quite different from the landscapes of North China. Nevertheless, the abundance of farmland held promise for them.
Africa, despite its vast size, boasted land holdings per capita that exceeded those of the Far Eastern powers. The seemingly endless plains of the Far East often masked the region's immense population.
The immigrants in Mashulu began constructing houses, temporary mud structures, as there were still relatively few people, and they couldn't afford to spend too much time improving living conditions.
After disembarking from Tanga Port and Dar es Salaam Port, the immigrants had traveled with supplies in two carriages, which included farm tools and rations. The materials were scarce, and the town's development was in its early stages.
A month later, the population of Mashulu Township had swelled to over 400 residents, giving it the appearance of a village. Fields were being developed along the banks of the river, with more than a thousand acres dedicated to tobacco cultivation. These tobacco crops would serve as the future raw materials for the Hexingen Tobacco Company.
For a long time, Hexingen Tobacco Company had mainly sourced tobacco from foreign businessmen, processing it into cigarettes through machines. This reliance on external sources incurred significant production costs, as tobacco prices were dictated by these businessmen. The vast, fertile lands of East Africa, well-suited for tobacco cultivation, presented an opportunity to obtain high-quality raw materials at lower costs.
The East African colonial government planned to establish a 50,000-acre tobacco plantation near Mashulu Town. This would not only expedite immigration to Kenya but also generate profits, serving as a win-win solution.
Once the tobacco harvest was abundant, representatives from Hexingen Tobacco Company would come to collect the crops. The tobacco would be transported to European ports, such as Mombasa or Dar es Salaam, before being shipped to Europe.
As the mayor of Mashulu Town, Anthony, a former Prussian soldier and mercenary, led the town's development efforts. Unlike the life of warfare, Anthony preferred working the land, a sentiment shared by many of the immigrants. He led by example, working alongside others in the fields and nurturing a sense of satisfaction and happiness among the townspeople.
The residents of Mashulu Town, comprising immigrants from different parts of the world, found common ground in their shared identity as farmers. They exchanged experiences and knowledge about agriculture. Anthony, fluent in the dialect of the Austrian Empire and equipped with some basic Chinese phrases, promoted friendly relations among the diverse population.
In this inclusive environment, where people from Germany, the Austrian Empire, and the Far East coexisted, class distinctions were minimal. The majority of the population consisted of soldiers and farmers, leading to similar incomes and living conditions. Barriers and prejudices rooted in history and geography began to dissolve.
However, the indigenous people of East Africa, the aborigines, were an exception. Their tribal customs, patterned tattoos, and dark complexions set them apart from the immigrant population. The East African colonial government deliberately reinforced stereotypes about the aborigines, portraying them as savage, uncivilized, and evolutionarily backward, further distancing them from the settlers.
In Mashulu Town, life was harmonious, and residents thrived as they cultivated the iron-red land beneath the crimson African sunset.
(End of Chapter 72)