________________
CHAPTER 22
EARLY SETTLEMENT IN EAST AFRICA
In Kenya the foreign migration started from the eleventh century A.D. and was limited to the coastal area. Arabs came first in the eleventh century, followed by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century and the English in the nineteenth century.
The news of the first four pioneers' success spread fast all over Halar and more people decided to follow their path. In the beginning only a handful came. The numbers then went on increasing. Thus the honor of opening the doors of East Africa to Halari Visa Oshwal community goes to these four pioneers. The single most important source of information about the opportunities in Africa was word of mouth; also regular visits home, letters written home and encouragement to others to come.
The early settlers were either illiterate or had very little education. Most of them had worked as farm hands back home. They were used to hard work and long hours. Most of them chose to work as laborers. Since a lot of development was going on and there was need of more housing many worked in the construction industry as either masons or bricklayers. As the catering business was booming many opened the restaurants. Some opened small shops selling groceries and clothing. They took jobs in any type of work and were not ashamed of it.
Many even came with a contract of three years of employment with the government. The wages were usually 150-225 rupees for the entire period of stay. This amounted to 50-75 rupees a year. As they lived frugally and had no or very little time for entertainment, expenses
