Chapter 162: End of the Year
By the end of 1868, the population of East Africa had grown to approximately 1.75 million people. This increase was driven not only by new immigrants but also by the first wave of baby boomers in East Africa. The relatively stable environment over the past two years, combined with favorable immigration policies and improvements in addressing marriage issues, had led to the formation of many new families in East Africa.
The East African colonies were benefiting from the aftermath of war, with expanded territory and increased agricultural areas providing an incentive for immigrants to have more children. Child-rearing costs were low in this era, and the immigrants, who were mostly poor and white, were generally eager to have larger families. With a bit more effort, they could support more people.
The immigrants in East Africa did not feel a sense of crisis, thanks to the region's openness and favorable natural conditions, which contrasted with the more enclosed environment of Eurasia. In addition to the immigrant population, there were approximately 1.3 million indigenous laborers, though they were not included in the official population statistics.
East Africa's economy was driven by a slave-based system, where slaves undertook heavy work and were also sold as labor. This system formed a closed loop where slaves were brought in to supplement the labor force. Under this system, infrastructure in East Africa was rapidly developed, cities and villages were connected by roads, and agriculture expanded on a massive scale.
The grains harvested in East Africa were divided into three main categories: rations for immigrants, rations for slaves, and grains for export. Immigrant rations accounted for the largest portion, as new immigrants to East Africa were initially unable to contribute to production and relied on the colonies for their food. Additionally, land development, village construction, and wartime efforts required significant food resources.
Slaves were also provided with rations, and large quantities of corn and cassava were planted to feed them. These crops had high yields and were easy to cultivate, making them suitable for providing food to the enslaved population.
The grains for export constituted the primary source of income for the East African colonies. Although East Africa's grain production was still limited due to cyclical factors, the region's low labor and land costs made grain exports highly profitable.
Economic crops such as coffee, rubber, and cinchona were in the early stages of development and had not yet reached the production and export stages. Only economic crops like sisal, cloves, and peanuts had entered the stage of sustainable production and export.
In terms of territorial expansion, East Africa had not significantly increased its territory in the latter half of the year. The Mitumba Mountains area, occupied primarily by the eight northwestern countries, was incorporated into East Africa, providing a buffer zone between the East African Plateau and the Congo Basin.
East Africa's future expansion plans included swallowing the Katanga Plateau in the south of the Congo and the eastern part of Zambia. The Congo Basin, a tropical rainforest region, was the only territory remaining for the Belgians.
Ernst was not particularly interested in the Congo Basin due to its challenging terrain and reputation as a forbidden place for humans. East Africa's territorial expansion over the year amounted to around 500,000 to 600,000 square kilometers, primarily in the northwest.
The indigenous population was largely concentrated in this newly acquired territory. The tribes of the Northwest Bantu occupied the Congo Basin, with no unified country in the region.
Despite the challenges posed by the tropical rainforest environment, the future of the Congo Basin was still uncertain, and the emergence of East African colonies was set to impact the balance of power among the great powers in Africa.
In terms of industrialization, East Africa had established traditional handicraft systems, including saltworks, brick kilns, lime factories, and various handicraft workshops. While low in technical complexity and output, these industries could be easily mastered by practitioners in an illiterate environment, making them suitable for widespread dissemination.
East Africa had also constructed several modern factories with imported machinery and European employees. However, the lack of a complete industrial chain and the need for imported parts limited the scale of industrialization in the colonies.
The colony of Mozambique, neighboring East Africa, was heavily exploited by the Portuguese. East Africa's industrialization was still in its infancy, and many aspects of its future development remained uncertain.
For Ernst and the Hexingen Consortium, people were a valuable resource. Despite the population's relatively low education levels, the growing population and army were the core strengths of the East African colonies.
As East Africa continued to provide more soldiers and military expenditures, its army would become more powerful and capable of securing the colonies' safety. Ernst recognized the value of a large, well-equipped army and understood that the colony's prosperity depended on population growth and military strength.