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Retrospect on the Development of the Kamerun Protectorate in 1908 

(p.15) In Kamerun, this wide area, which is almost as large as the motherland, skirmishes and clashes with wild, partially yet totally uncivilized tribes of natives are a daily occurrence. In such a fight, on March 5th this year, one of Kamerun's oldest Schutztruppe officers, Captain Glauning, has fallen. In the report year, most warlike clashes have occurred along the German-British border.
In comparison, the relation with the indigenous in the north of the protectorate, where our rule is exercized in the form of residentures, as well as on the coast, has been satisfactorily. (p.16) The stronger demands for coloured workers, intensified by the 2000 men required on average for the construction of the Manenguba Railroad, in general could be fulfilled with great difficulties.
The protectorate's progress is expressed in the extraordinary increase of the white population from 1010 to 1128 and in the rapid increase in the export values. The total export rose from 9.9 million Mark in 1906 to 15.7 million Mark in 1907, i.e. by 43 %. Simultaneously the import rose from 13.3 million Mark to 17.3 million Mark, an increase of 30 %. The caoutchouc exports rose from 4.7 million Mark to 7.6 million Mark, i.e. by about 3 million Mark. Palm kernels and palm oil combined result in almost 4.2 million Mark as compared to 3 million in the previous year. The export of cacao has more than doubled, from 1.2 million Mark to 2.7 million Mark. The export of ivory, too, increased, despite the dact that in 1907 it was forbidden to export elephant tusks of 2 kg or less. The export of lumber from the dense stands along the rivers and the coasts has prospects.
The railway from Duala (Hickory) is under construction, for the time being approved on a length of 160 km to the Manenguba Mountains, but which shall once be the traversing line reaching to Lake Chad and the infrastructure backbone of the colony. In the report year the wish to establish a rail line for the south of the colony has been fulfilled by the approval of the stretch Duala-Widimenge (Njong River) by Reichstag.

Figure 6 : Costume of the Mboandem women (special cast of women in the Keaka land)

This line has been selected over other projects beginning at one of the southern ports. However, the official memorandum remarks, that a connection of the Batanga coast with the hinterland is desired. As it may be, the construction of railroads is going parallel with the construction of roads, and in certain areas the station heads are masters in the art to entice the indigenous to voluntarily work on such projects via the intermediation of the chiefs. As a sample the Jaunde are mentioned, who supplied tax labourers for road work, despite the fact that the people have paid c. 180,000 Mark taxes in cash in the half year between April 1st and September 30th 1908.
In this context the colony's school reports are mentioned. - From Duala it is reported, that almost all the students who graduated from the first class found employment with the government; the same has been reported from the 26 graduates of the institute in Victoria. The craftsmen school in Buea could send qualified carpenters to all stations in the interior, carpenters as well as joiners. The visitors of the German Army-, Navy- and Colonial Exhibition will remember the works made from Kamerun lumber. One event has to be mentioned, the advance made by the use of money in the hinterland. When it first was introduced by government decree, it found many an objection (p.17), but today our 5 Mark and 2 Mark coins are willingly accepted by the natives of the hinterland, and also the nickel pieces enjoy an ever-rising popularity, while earlier the trading houses at the coast 
wanted to regard the 50 Pfenning coin the smallest.
Even the smallest stations and posts in the colony have established experimental gardens and do not forget that our aims in this most valuable of our tropical colonies are primarily of economic nature.

Colonial Literature and Maps 1908/09: Kamerun.

Edlinger, W. Beiträge zur Geologie und Petrographie Deutsch-Adamauas. (Contribution to the Geology and Petrography of Deutsch-Adamaua) with 2 plates. 2,25 Mark.

Hagen, G. v. Kurzes Handbuch des Neger-Englisch an der Westküste Afrikas u. bes. Berücks. v. Kamerun. (Short handbook of Negro-English of Africa's West Coast, with special consideration of Kamerun) 1.20 Mark.

Mansfeld, A. Urwald-Dokumente. Vier Jahre unter den Crossfluss-Negern Kameruns. (Jungle Documents. Four Years among the Cross River Negroes of Kamerun) a strong volume with 32 photo plates, 160 figures and 2 maps. Elegantly bound 12 Mark.

Marquardsen, H. Der Niger-Benue. Eine historisch-geographische Beschreibung der natürlichen Verbindung Nordkameruns mit der Küste (mit Karte). (The Niger-Benue. A historical-geographical description of the natural connection of Northern Kamerun with the coast, with map) W. Süsserott 1909.

Sembritziki, E. Kamerun. with illustrations. 5 Mark.

Westermann, D. Handbuch der Ful-Sprache. (Handbook of the Ful language) hardcover 8 Mark.

Zimmermann, O. Durch Busch und Steppe vom Kampo bis zum Schari 1892-1902. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Schutztruppe von Kamerun (mit Karte). (Through bush and steppe from the Kampo to the Schari 1892-1902. A contribution to the history of the Schutztruppe of Kamerun, with map) 5 Mark.

figure 7 : Road to Lolodorf in Kamerun


Maps.

Abkommen, betreffend die Abgrenzung zwischen Kamerun und Französisch-Kongo vom 18. April 1908. (Agreement concerning the border between Kamerun and Fench Congo of April 18th 1908) 1 : 2,000,000. By Max Moisel. Deutsches Kolonialblatt 1908, No. 9. Price 0.50 Mark.

Map of the southwestern parts of Kamerun (containing the Badel Mission area) based on original surveys of the Basel missionaries as well as of officers and officials in copperation with Max Moisel, drawn by H. Dorsch, missionary. 1 : 350.000. Basler Missionshandlung in Basel 1908. 6,40 Mark, on linen in pocket size 12 Mark.

Map of Cameroons. 1 : 2.000.000. Topogr. Sect. General Staff. War Office. 1908. 2.50 Mark, on linen in pocket size 3.50 Mark.

Further notes on literature and maps can be found in Dietrich Reimer's "Mitteilungen für Ansiedler, Farmer, Tropenpflanzer, Beamte, Forschungsreisende und Kaufleute". Issued quarterly, single issues at 30 Pfennig; yearly issue, postage included, at 1.60 Mark. Available at all bookstores or directly from Dietrich Reimer (Erich Vohsen), Berlin SW 48.

GM (digitalisation) and AG (translation) 
posted on the web for psm-data; many thanks to

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin / Preußischer Kulturbesitz 

Kartenabteilung

Dokument in deutscher Sprache