Chapter 355: Anka Village
As evening descended, the convoy traveling through East Africa came to a halt after covering over 20 kilometers. The group was set to spend the night in a village, and arrangements for accommodations were made at the village's post station, courtesy of the village head.
Despite the relatively short distance between Dar es Salaam and the first town, the journey had not been swift due to the unique nature of their group.
In the evening, the village residents had already begun cooking, with the warm glow of fires and rising smoke visible from chimneys.
Aryan couldn't help but exclaim, "What a breathtaking scene!"
This was the first time the aid team had a glimpse of East African countryside after their arrival. During the daytime journey, they had mostly witnessed wilderness. Occasionally, they spotted wildlife along the road, dispelling earlier rumors of East Africa's barrenness. Now, they finally encountered fertile fields and villages.
East Africa, in contrast to places like Versailles, was vast and sparsely populated. However, the environment across much of East Africa was conducive to human habitation. This resulted in villages and towns scattered across the landscape, with substantial stretches of undeveloped land in between, such as forests or grasslands. These areas often saw rapid animal population growth.
East Africa couldn't constantly invest effort into containing these wild animals, so they opted for a pragmatic approach. They ensured safety near inhabited areas while allowing nature to thrive further afield.
East Africa's situation was reminiscent of Australia, where tens of millions of kangaroos roamed, although East Africa had the advantage of superior land resources, particularly arable land. This potential had yet to be fully tapped, but with ongoing immigration, the situation was set to change.
Anka Village, where the aid group was staying, served as a crucial node along the highway between the first town and Dar es Salaam. Positioned right in the center of the highway, it accommodated the constant flow of goods and travelers, boasting multiple post stations. Immigrants and convoys heading inland often stopped here.
The continual influx of immigrants was a reason why the population growth rate in East Africa's eastern coastal areas remained slow despite their early development. The East African inland seemed like a bottomless pit, absorbing newcomers to the region. Anka Village was a prime example of this phenomenon. In addition to its role in agricultural development, it facilitated the onward migration of immigrants into the interior.
Anka Village was a sizable settlement, boasting over a thousand households and a larger population than many provincial capitals in the East African Kingdom's Zambia. It resembled a town more than a village, and the road passed through its southern side, while the village's farmland lay to the north.
The rice fields in Anka Village were currently in the harvest season, with most of the golden rice already gathered, leaving straw piles scattered throughout the area. For many members of the aid group, this was their first encounter with rice, as they were all northerners with limited exposure to this staple crop.
Aryan remarked, "It looks quite similar to the Far East, especially the adobe houses; they're almost identical. The main difference is the presence of several German-style public buildings in the village."
Robert, the head of Anka Village, explained, "During the early colonial period, due to limited availability of bricks and cement, many villages were initially constructed with rough adobe houses. However, now that the Kingdom has expanded its building material production capacity, especially in the Central Province, these adobe houses are gradually being renovated. Next year, all our villagers will be able to reside in safer, more spacious, and comfortable new houses."
Robert was one of the earliest German immigrants to arrive in East Africa and had served as a mercenary. He had participated in the conflict against the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Now retired, Robert chose to remain in East Africa, where he sent his children to start a new life. He appreciated the region's potential for growth.
Robert, with his wealth of experience and extended stay in East Africa, possessed an in-depth knowledge of Anka Village's history and the broader colonial period in East Africa.
Aryan noted, "His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have always prioritized the well-being of the people. While East Africa may not be the wealthiest place, the living standards for ordinary citizens are significantly better here than in many other parts of the world."
Robert added, "That's why I decided to stay in East Africa. The world is tumultuous, especially in Europe, where wars have been frequent. Wars are one of the greatest tragedies for common folks like us. Besides the potential for war, I trust His Royal Highness Ernst completely. He has fulfilled his promises to us veterans, including wages, bonuses, pensions, and continued support for our families in Germany. I have complete faith in Ernst."
Robert referred to the old mercenaries, the pioneers of the first East African colony. Ernst personally saw them off to East Africa and had fulfilled his promises, making Robert and others like him confident in the Kingdom's leadership.
Robert believed that East Africa held great potential, and although he acknowledged the uncertainty of the distant future, he was content to leave the country's fate and the legacy of future generations to the East African Kingdom.
Robert's trust in the nobility was not naivety but a reflection of the prevailing sentiment among German commoners in this era. They placed considerable faith in noble families with good reputations. Rural areas, in particular, tended to harbor strong support for the nobility, as seen in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where the Habsburg royal family garnered widespread approval regardless of ethnicity.
(end of this chapter)