Chapter 20
Chapter 20: The First Town (Mrandizi)
Located approximately 58 kilometers west of Dar es Salaam, the first settlement established by the Hechingen colonial team in East Africa was named "the first town" by Yarman, its leader, to commemorate this historic milestone in the colony's development.
The first town lies in the transitional zone between the East African coastal plain and the plateau, characterized by relatively flat terrain with only a few hills to the southwest. It is situated close to the Indian Ocean and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, benefiting from the warm and humid equatorial air flow, resulting in an annual precipitation rate of over 1300mm and lush vegetation.
In this region, the distribution of precipitation can lead to flooding during the rainy season. As a precaution, the first town is built on higher ground to avoid the impact of potential floods.
The settlement is located within the basin of the Little Rhine (Lufu River), a significant river originating from the Uluguru mountain area, flowing to Bagamoyo in the Sultanate of Zanzibar and eventually reaching the Zanzibar Strait. The fertile land surrounding the first town, coupled with the tropical climate and abundant sunlight, makes it suitable for growing crops such as rice, flax, and corn.
Presently, the area remains largely undeveloped, inhabited mostly by wild animals and occasional slave hunters from the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Due to the ongoing slave hunting operations, major indigenous tribes are scarce in the vicinity, as these operations typically require venturing deeper into the inland regions.
The Hechingen colonial team constructed trenches and low fences around the first town to protect it from wild animals. At this stage, the settlement houses around 800 residents, including members of the colonial team, recently arrived Chinese immigrants, and over 500 indigenous people who are temporarily detained.
In February, the first group of 700 East Asian immigrants arrived via the Dutch fleet. Most of them were deceived into believing they were coming for employment opportunities, unaware that their contracts would span twenty years, effectively committing them to a lifetime of service for the Hohenzollern family in East Africa.
Upon their arrival at the port of Dar es Salaam, the immigrants underwent a thorough disinfection process and received uniform German attire, largely consisting of second-hand Prussian military uniforms purchased by Ernst. They also had their hair cut and braids removed, a process that initially caused some anxiety among the immigrants.
The first month in the colony was dedicated to clearing the area of wild animals, and a safe zone extending five to six kilometers around the first town was established. Indigenous tribes in the vicinity were driven away through persuasion or, in some cases, captured as free labor.
The new arrivals from the Qing Dynasty, unfamiliar with rice cultivation, began growing wheat instead. While wheat could be grown in tropical regions, its yield was lower, making it a temporary solution until rice seeds could be obtained. However, the long-term focus of the Hechingen colonial team was on cultivating sisal.
Sisal, known for its strong fibers, was in high demand worldwide for manufacturing ship cables, sacks, and carpets. East Africa, including Tanzania, would become a major sisal producer in the future, as sisal plants thrived in tropical climates with abundant rainfall.
Ernst realized the vast agricultural potential of East Africa, with its flat terrain resembling the North China Plain where he had grown up. The unique feature of the East African Plateau, with its gradual transition from coastal plains, contributed to the region's suitability for agriculture.
While East Africa had favorable natural conditions, the lack of water conservation facilities and reservoirs hindered agricultural development. Ernst believed that solving these water-related challenges would be crucial for unlocking the agricultural potential of the East African colonies.
(end of Chapter 20)