Mrs. Mary Gillett's "Tribute to Pioneers" - an index of many of the Pioneers of
East Africa, has recently been revised and republished. It contains more than 2,000
names of those who arrived in East Africa before the end of 1914. To quote from
Mary Gillett's own "Foreword" to the revised edition: "Before 1875 little was known
of British East Africa. It was called "Darkest Africa, the Whiteman's Grave', but
little by little, year by year, with the building of the Uganda Railway, and with great
courage, with genius and with great humour, a gradual flow of very gallant men and
women - Pioneers indeed - blazed the trail and carved the progress of that vast
country. Europeans, Asians and Africans all played their part, with unyielding
determination. Struggling on, they opened up the country. Missionaries, administrators,
farmers, traders, medical men, engineers, veterinary surgeons and sportsmen
arrived. Enduring many difficulties and the great hardships of disease, lack of water,
tribal warfare, wild animals, snakes, ticks and intense heat, these Pioneers valiantly
persevered and succeeded in developing a very wonderful country. Gradually it
became rich in agriculture - coffee, tea, sisal, and maize were cultivated, cattle and
sheep estates were developed. Game Reserves were formed, and belts of forest
maintained. Minerals were discovered and, when the tsetse fly menace was overcome,
horse breeding commenced. Settlers, Missionaries and the Government started
schools and hospitals, conditions gradually improved, and more trust began to
emerge between the races. Language difficulties prevailed but with perseverance and
the help of gesticulations, a greater understanding eventually materialised."
These were the earliest "colonials" and, at a time when it seems to be the fashion,
almost as much in public circles as outside, to denigrate the work of these former
colonials, those who subscribe to this attitude would do well to take note and reflect
on the achievements of these earliest Pioneers and their successors in the most
difficult of conditions. They might then have a change of heart.
As Mary Gillett goes on to say: "Now all is in the hands of the rising generations -
they must go on persevering and making improvements, and, with God's Blessing,
long may East Africa and her people prosper."
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