|
The earliest remains
resembling those of human being have been found in East Africa on the shores
of Lake Turkana in Northern Kenya - popularly referred to as the “Cradle
of Mankind”. The first known guidebook to this region “the Periplus
of the Erythrean Sea”, written by Diogenes, the Greek merchant who made
exploration southwards from Egypt about A.D. 110, described places, rivers,
islands and towns for sailors in the Indian Ocean waters recording the
sailing time from one place to another. He also mentioned that
he travelled inland as far as the vicinity of the great lakes and the snowy
mountains from where the Nile River drew its sources.
The early visitors to East Africa traded in grain, oil ghee, glass,
beads, cloth, metal tools, cooper, tin and weapons which they exchanged
for palm oil, rhinoceros horns, ivory, slaves, cinnamon, frankincense,
gum arabic, tortoise shells and live animals from the East African natives.
In 1415, the ruler of Malindi sent a giraffe to the Chinese emperor as
a gift, accompanied by a caretaker to look after the animal. Two
years later, the caretaker was escorted back home by a large fleet of ships
and sailors as a sign of appreciation by the Emperor.
By fifteen century, Portuguese explorers like Bartholomew Diaz, (1486)
and Vasco da Gama (1498) reached the Cape of Good Hope, Mombasa and Malindi.
Except in Malindi where Vasco da Gama found a friendly Sultan, the
arrival of the Portuguese on the East African Coast met a hostile reception
from the Arabs who detested European interference with their position and
influence in the area. They continued to rule the Coast against bitter
opposition from the Arabs which culminated in the bombardment and siege
of the Fort Jesus in 1696. The struggle continued for over twenty
years. The Portuguese were finally driven out of Mombasa in 1720.
Their departure left the Imam of Oman the sole ruler of the Coast until
the arrival of the British and the Germans at the end of the 19th Century.
The arrival of the British and the Germans opened up trade between
the East African Coast and the rest of the World, and began the process
to abolish the dreadful slave trade.
Those early western explorers, traders and missionaries opened a gate
to one of the countries that was to become a shinning star of modern tourism
in Africa - Kenya.
| . |
