Page "Nyakyusa people" Paragraph 3

The Scots had founded Karonga in 1875.

In 1889, the treaties of Harry Johnston reduced the state of regular war between the Konde Chiefs and the Arabs.

In 1895 the British hanged Mlozi, a slave trader.

Finally the area was incorporated as ' British Central Africa ', with Karonga itself fortified with palisades on the lake and defended on the other three sides with trenches, which could be swept from brick bastions.

Gates protected the trenches of the fort with two cannons, one Norden field machine-gun, and 300 to 400 armed inhabitants, who were ready even during peacetime.

Administrators and warehouses were to be found inside — the houses of the inhabitants were outside — within their own palisades, protected by the guns of the fort.

It is said that slave raids were conducted almost within sight of Karonga, leaving the Nyakyusa and others uncertain as to whether or not to support Mlozi or a European power.

Three hundred to five hundred warriors finally supported England.

Karonga was important as England's main support base for the ' Stephenson Road ', from Lake Nyasa to Lake Tanganyika, which by 1892 was already falling apart due to a lack of funds.