American Geographical Society

The History of Malindi: A Geographical Analysis of an East African Coastal Town from thePortuguese Period to the Present by Esmond Bradley MartinReview by: Bob J. WalterGeographical Review, Vol. 65, No. 1 (Jan., 1975), pp. 129-131Published by: American Geographical SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/213844 .

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GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEWS GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEWS

Chapter 3 reviews agriculture between 1911 and 1960. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are detailed reports on land use, investment, and employment.

The only trace of a thesis is in Chapter i, in which one of the authors detects a declining trend in agricultural production from 1958 to 1962 and a growth from 1962 to 1967 and claims that initial abandonment of agriculture in the

early oil years was later mitigated by rising prices for agricultural products, the influx of foreign labor, and the investment of oil revenues in the agricultural sector. Documented support consists of an untitled, unnumbered table with no source cited, which shows the value of Libyan agricultural production in 1958, 1962, and 1967. The assertion is made that the decline between the first two

figures and the growth between the latter two figures represent trends. Elsewhere in the book the authors stress the unpredictability and variability

of rainfall in Libya that is reflected in the dry-farmed agricultural harvests. And

yet one of them chooses gross value of agricultural production in three closely spaced, isolated years to identify trends. A little research shows that 1958 was the

year of an exceptional olive crop, which lifted the value of all agricultural pro- duction. Production of wheat, barley, citrus fruit, and tomatoes, all of them im-

portant crops, was substantially higher in 1962 than in 1958. Production of dry- farmed crops fluctuated wildly during this interval, but production of citrus fruit and tomatoes, both irrigated crops, shows steeply rising curves, which bla- tantly contradict the author's thesis in Chapter i.

A valuable research project formed the basis of the last three chapters and of the color crop-survey maps (printed on eight separate insert sheets), the twenty time-series agricultural maps, and the twenty-two computer maps. In 1967 and 1968 students were sent into the field to obtain information about summer and winter cropping patterns, farm investment, and agricultural wages in thirty-six farming areas of Libya, which represent a useful sampling of the country's ag- ricultural lands. Aerial photography was also utilized in making the maps, and in ten areas comparisons were made between cropped land in the 1950o's and the 196o's. The resulting map series is a major contribution to the documentation of conditions in modern Libya.

The research project also spawned sixty tables which occupy an enormous amount of space and which, though they have value as documentation, are the most unprocessed tables that I can remember seeing in print. No vertical lining is utilized, making some of them difficult to read; inadequate labeling is typical; summary tables are often lacking; and various other crudities may be detected.

The lack of editing and the failure of scholarship in this volume are demon- strated in other instances too numerous to mention. It is a pity that, in a volume with such potential, the data were not processed and analyzed in a more schol- arly fashion. - ROBERT WYLIE BROWN

THE HISTORY OF MALINDI: A Geographical Analysis of an East African Coastal Town from the Portuguese Period to the Present. By ESMOND BRADLEY MARTIN. xvi and 301 pp.; maps, ills., bibliogr., index. East African Literature Bureau, Nairobi, Kampala, and Dar es Salaam, 1973. $14.00 (clothbound); $9.60 (paper bound). 8?1 x 51/2 inches.

The fortunes of urban places under changing political systems and economic forces are often unpredictable. Some are able to retain their importance and grow, while others wither and disappear from the scene. In "The History of

Chapter 3 reviews agriculture between 1911 and 1960. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are detailed reports on land use, investment, and employment.

The only trace of a thesis is in Chapter i, in which one of the authors detects a declining trend in agricultural production from 1958 to 1962 and a growth from 1962 to 1967 and claims that initial abandonment of agriculture in the

early oil years was later mitigated by rising prices for agricultural products, the influx of foreign labor, and the investment of oil revenues in the agricultural sector. Documented support consists of an untitled, unnumbered table with no source cited, which shows the value of Libyan agricultural production in 1958, 1962, and 1967. The assertion is made that the decline between the first two

figures and the growth between the latter two figures represent trends. Elsewhere in the book the authors stress the unpredictability and variability

of rainfall in Libya that is reflected in the dry-farmed agricultural harvests. And

yet one of them chooses gross value of agricultural production in three closely spaced, isolated years to identify trends. A little research shows that 1958 was the

year of an exceptional olive crop, which lifted the value of all agricultural pro- duction. Production of wheat, barley, citrus fruit, and tomatoes, all of them im-

portant crops, was substantially higher in 1962 than in 1958. Production of dry- farmed crops fluctuated wildly during this interval, but production of citrus fruit and tomatoes, both irrigated crops, shows steeply rising curves, which bla- tantly contradict the author's thesis in Chapter i.

A valuable research project formed the basis of the last three chapters and of the color crop-survey maps (printed on eight separate insert sheets), the twenty time-series agricultural maps, and the twenty-two computer maps. In 1967 and 1968 students were sent into the field to obtain information about summer and winter cropping patterns, farm investment, and agricultural wages in thirty-six farming areas of Libya, which represent a useful sampling of the country's ag- ricultural lands. Aerial photography was also utilized in making the maps, and in ten areas comparisons were made between cropped land in the 1950o's and the 196o's. The resulting map series is a major contribution to the documentation of conditions in modern Libya.

The research project also spawned sixty tables which occupy an enormous amount of space and which, though they have value as documentation, are the most unprocessed tables that I can remember seeing in print. No vertical lining is utilized, making some of them difficult to read; inadequate labeling is typical; summary tables are often lacking; and various other crudities may be detected.

The lack of editing and the failure of scholarship in this volume are demon- strated in other instances too numerous to mention. It is a pity that, in a volume with such potential, the data were not processed and analyzed in a more schol- arly fashion. - ROBERT WYLIE BROWN

THE HISTORY OF MALINDI: A Geographical Analysis of an East African Coastal Town from the Portuguese Period to the Present. By ESMOND BRADLEY MARTIN. xvi and 301 pp.; maps, ills., bibliogr., index. East African Literature Bureau, Nairobi, Kampala, and Dar es Salaam, 1973. $14.00 (clothbound); $9.60 (paper bound). 8?1 x 51/2 inches.

The fortunes of urban places under changing political systems and economic forces are often unpredictable. Some are able to retain their importance and grow, while others wither and disappear from the scene. In "The History of

129 129

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THE GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Malindi," Esmond Bradley Martin traces the history of one such town in transi- tion. However, he does not intend "to recreate the historical geography of Malindi per se, but to use the historical geography to explain the economic roles of the different ethnic groups in order to prove the thesis of the necessity for the influx of new ideas and new people to keep the economy thriving." A thorough review of the literature and extensive fieldwork on the economic roles of various local groups reveal the economic bases which have sustained Malindi since the

appearance of the Portuguese in the late 1400oo's. Malindi has gone from prosperity to bare existence and has reestablished it-

self in a position of economic prominence, based on its potential as a tourist at- traction. To explain how, Martin asserts that "each new stage of development was the direct result of initiative and capital infused into the economy by outsiders." The history of economic change from 1498 to 1963, when Malindi was ruled by Portugal, Zanzibar, and Great Britain, is studied in the first part of the book. An

attempt to link the rising fortunes of Malindi to outside influences and the de-

clining conditions of the town to local apathy is not convincing. This is due partly to questionable logic, partly to conclusions drawn without evidence, and partly to

contradictory statements. He asserts "the uniqueness of Malindi's economy his-

tory" among coastal towns and then proceeds to argue against the point with

comparisons to Mombasa, which was also successful, and to Lamu, which failed

largely because of location and a limited hinterland, not because of lack of out- side influence or the conservative nature of the inhabitants.

The second part of the study is an examination of various sectors of the economy - agriculture, retail and service industries, fishing, dhow trade, and tourism - covering the period since 1960 and using material gathered in the field, augmented by historical information. An attempt is made to demonstrate that, in each of the sectors, conflict between traditionalists and progressives hin- ders Malindi's development. About agriculture, historically the economic base of Malindi, Martin states, "Arab land tenure is now a major hindrance to expansion of agricultural output," but then he drops the subject. No references to tenure or to land tenure appear in the index. Besides, the difficulty is not tenure but own- ership. Tourism is the newest and the most promising sector, and the dhow trade is the most severely hindered. By citing numerous statistics, some of which are irrelevant, the author presents the situation for each sector. In his conclu- sions on each sector he offers his remedies for some of the conflicts and suggests that the capacity to resist change may be weakening.

In its present form the book is a thorough but unimaginative description of Malindi. The disappointments are manifold. The author fails to incorporate a geographical conceptual framework. There is no African perspective whatever: the author assumes a Western model for development and displays an ethnocen- tric viewpoint which is regrettable (I might say infuriating) at the least. The maps are a disgrace, lacking proper legend, reference, and features mentioned in the text. The study contains undigested tables and occasionally the text is a repetitive description of the information in the tables. The book still has the look of a dis- sertation with too many citations and with sections not germane to the central idea, and the system of citation is frustrating to use.

The idea that outside influence is necessary for economic progress is simply not supported. The Giriama, who are relatively recent arrivals to Malindi, rep- resent outsiders, yet Martin does not view them in that perspective. His outside

130

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GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEWS GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEWS

influence is predominantly the Europeans, although credit is given to Zanzibaris. What constitutes outsiders? No clear indication is available in the study. Finally, the study lacks a human flavor, especially an African one. There is a plethora of

dry, descriptive statistics, composed in an indifferent style. How much more alive the book would have been if each chapter had included interviews with a trader, a fisherman, a salesman, and so forth!

Malindi is a fascinating place and one which contains lessons for other Afri- can urban places trying to stay afloat on the stormy seas of changing economic fortunes. This study provides only a dim beacon; the tragedy is that it might have been so bright, especially if it had been designed to guide economic change, compatible with African development goals, into a safe harbor. - BOB J. WALTER

COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY OF INDIA. By E. AHMAD. x and 222 pp.; maps, diagrs., bibliogrs., index. Orient Longman Ltd., New Delhi, 1972. Rs 30. 934 x 6/2 inches.

Any addition to the body of literature on coastal geomorphology is greatly ap- preciated and noteworthy. Enayat Ahmad's work draws a general picture of India's coastal characteristics. Emphasis is confined to reviewing large-scale maps, to collecting available information, and to interpreting these data in the

light of new and old theories of coastal development. Ahmad is correct in stating "the existing literature pertaining to the coastal

geomorphology of India is very limited." Most of the works on India are either very old or more regionalized or specialized. However, the author fails to men- tion or consult the broad surveys of coastlines published by foreign coastal

geomorphologists or the world maps prepared by John T. McGill (W. C. Put- nam, D. I. Axelrod, H. P. Bailey, and J. T. McGill: Natural Coastal Environ- ments of the World [Univ. of California, Los Angeles, 1960]). In an area of what one might consider "primitive neglect," where intensive and extensive fieldwork seems to be in short supply, one wonders if trying to construct an overall picture may not be a bit premature.

The author examines offshore features, shore features, coastal features, and littoral evolution and applied aspects. Within these categories he separates loca- tional surveys from discussions of origin, evolution, and composition. As a result of this organization the reader must search back and forth for pertinent details relating to each feature. This attempt to consider a regional analysis under topi- cal headings also results in a significant amount of repetitiveness. Ahmad admits "the text is on occasions expansive or even repetitive" but "it becomes at times desirable in scientific writing for clear and rapid communication of ideas." The book contains a number of frustrating statements as well. One reads: "These is- lands consisting of beach sand and muddy banks, without any vegetation, whose growth is precluded by the tidal submergence in the estuaries of the region, mark some important submarine phase or process," but Ahmad, after pointing out the existence of a particular island or beach, does not indicate the "important submarine phase or process."

This quotation also points out the oversimplification which exists throughout much of the work. Does Ahmad mean that the growth of vegetation is precluded by tidal submergence of the estuaries? At another point he mentions the exis- tence of some coral near the mainland in connection with littoral concrete; how-

influence is predominantly the Europeans, although credit is given to Zanzibaris. What constitutes outsiders? No clear indication is available in the study. Finally, the study lacks a human flavor, especially an African one. There is a plethora of

dry, descriptive statistics, composed in an indifferent style. How much more alive the book would have been if each chapter had included interviews with a trader, a fisherman, a salesman, and so forth!

Malindi is a fascinating place and one which contains lessons for other Afri- can urban places trying to stay afloat on the stormy seas of changing economic fortunes. This study provides only a dim beacon; the tragedy is that it might have been so bright, especially if it had been designed to guide economic change, compatible with African development goals, into a safe harbor. - BOB J. WALTER

COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY OF INDIA. By E. AHMAD. x and 222 pp.; maps, diagrs., bibliogrs., index. Orient Longman Ltd., New Delhi, 1972. Rs 30. 934 x 6/2 inches.

Any addition to the body of literature on coastal geomorphology is greatly ap- preciated and noteworthy. Enayat Ahmad's work draws a general picture of India's coastal characteristics. Emphasis is confined to reviewing large-scale maps, to collecting available information, and to interpreting these data in the

light of new and old theories of coastal development. Ahmad is correct in stating "the existing literature pertaining to the coastal

geomorphology of India is very limited." Most of the works on India are either very old or more regionalized or specialized. However, the author fails to men- tion or consult the broad surveys of coastlines published by foreign coastal

geomorphologists or the world maps prepared by John T. McGill (W. C. Put- nam, D. I. Axelrod, H. P. Bailey, and J. T. McGill: Natural Coastal Environ- ments of the World [Univ. of California, Los Angeles, 1960]). In an area of what one might consider "primitive neglect," where intensive and extensive fieldwork seems to be in short supply, one wonders if trying to construct an overall picture may not be a bit premature.

The author examines offshore features, shore features, coastal features, and littoral evolution and applied aspects. Within these categories he separates loca- tional surveys from discussions of origin, evolution, and composition. As a result of this organization the reader must search back and forth for pertinent details relating to each feature. This attempt to consider a regional analysis under topi- cal headings also results in a significant amount of repetitiveness. Ahmad admits "the text is on occasions expansive or even repetitive" but "it becomes at times desirable in scientific writing for clear and rapid communication of ideas." The book contains a number of frustrating statements as well. One reads: "These is- lands consisting of beach sand and muddy banks, without any vegetation, whose growth is precluded by the tidal submergence in the estuaries of the region, mark some important submarine phase or process," but Ahmad, after pointing out the existence of a particular island or beach, does not indicate the "important submarine phase or process."

This quotation also points out the oversimplification which exists throughout much of the work. Does Ahmad mean that the growth of vegetation is precluded by tidal submergence of the estuaries? At another point he mentions the exis- tence of some coral near the mainland in connection with littoral concrete; how-

131 131

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