The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-08-19

has no effect upon wild animals. Curiously
enough, the tsetse disappears from a district
when the game is exterminated or driven away.
We add that the word assagai, meaning the
javelin or dart, used by the Hottentot and Bantu
In war and the chase, is q corruption Of the
Portuguese azagsya, which was derived from
the Latin hasta.
To comprehend the actual condition and the
prospects OF the Cape Colony. one must begin
with q glance at its political institutions. The
Constitution Of this colony was promulgated on
March IL, 1853. BY It were created two cham
bers, both elective. termed, respectively. the
Legislative Council and the House of Assembly.
The upper chamber for some years consisted OF
fifteen member, but In course OF time this num-
Der was increased to twenty-five, besides the
Chief Justice. who acts as presiding oficer. For
the purpose Of electing the members of the up
per House, the colony was divided into two
provinces. more recently into eight circles. The
members hold their seats for seven years. The
House OF Assembly. on It's creation, consisted Of
~forty-six members. elected by twenty-five divi-
lions, Cape Town having two more representa-
tives than any Of the others. 1t now consists OF
seventy-six members, elected by thirty-seven
divisions. aud holding their seats for five years.
Parliament is summoned to meet by the Cover
~ \" III =. VI oht hplbiiittd Wy thV Nio"hs
but a period o ftwelve months must not elapse be-
tween the sessions. The right to vote for MEM
bers Of both hambers was originally conferred
upon every male British subject over twenty
one years OF age who occupied a house or land
worth SIPS, or was In receipt of a salary OF Sl35
. year with board and lodging, or $3.50 without.
There was no distinction as regards race or
color or religion, or manner OF living. In course
of time, however, It vas found expedient to alter
L. T. t--. H..
there Is q large class of people unable 10 COM
prehend the nature OF representative institu-
tons, and which is yet In possession Of sufficient
property 10 bring them within one of the condi-
lions specified above, in 800 the right to vote was
restricted to such adult male subjects as were
able TO sign their names and to write down their
addresses, and TO occupy property worth 1878
or receive $3.50 a year as salary or wages.
Since the enactment Of this Constitution no
law can be made in the Cape Colony without the
approval OF both Houses and the sanction of the
Governor. IL Is true that the right is reserved
10 the Queen to disallow any law 50 made
within two years OF its reaching England, but
In practice this right Is very rarely used. Never
theless, although the cOlonists were gratihed by
the change from arbitrary TO representative
government, they had still much to wish for.
The onhcials OF highest rank who formed the
Governors Cabinet continued To be sent out
from England, and held their appolntmentsd dur
Ing the pleasure of the British Colonial Secretary.
no matter whether the Cape Parliament liked
them or not. They framed all Government
measures, had exclusive power OF introducing
money bills, and possessed the right OF discus
son. though not of voting. in both chambers.
This condition OF things lasted eighteen years.
In 1872 responsible government was introduced,
and the Ministers have since that time been the
leaders OF the party in Parliament that can COM
nand the largest number of votes in support Of
their projects. These Ministers are the Colonial
Secretary, the Treasurer, the Attorney General.
the Commissioner OF Public Works, and the
Secretary for Agriculture. There is also the
Prime Minister, who may hold any OF these APP
pOintments, or none Of them. but who In any
case has all matters connected with the abOrig-
inal races directly under his care. Until 1899
the English language only could be used in
debate in the Cape Parliament. and the same
rule applied to proceedings In the courts OF
Justice and 10 transactions in the public offices.
This was decidedly unfair. for Dutch is habitu-
ally spoken by fully three-hfths of the white
people in the colonies. and by a still larger pro-
portion OF the cOlOred Inhabitants exclusive OF
the Bantu. The suppression OF Dutch as the
Onicial language was one OF the chief grievances
that ranked In the breast OF the old colonies,
and, in truth, the Cape Parliament could not be
said to represent the people as long as the Ian
Euage OF the majority was prescribed. When
the Beers awakened to the full significance of
responsible government one of their first acts
was 10 secure the same rights for their own
tongue as for the English. Either can now be
used in courts OF law, In Parliament or in public
offices, at the choice of the speaker, and no one
Is admitted into the ordinary branches Of the
civil service who does not know both.
Since the management OF its affairs has been
In the hands OF It's own people the Cape Colony
has made great stride in prosperity. Its prin-
eipal industries are stin pastoral and agrlcul-
tural, but these are now carried on In a much
more effective way than formerly. The great
KarOO plains, thinly speckled with succulent
plants. and the long grassy slopes further 20 the
north. are covered with Jocks OF merino sheep
and Angora goats, which are kept up TO a high
standard BY the importation Of the best foreign
blood. In these parts OF the colony agriculture
Is only possible where there Is running water,
but a great deal Of labor has been expended In
making reservoirs from which gardens and or
ehArds can be irrigated, and recently much sue
GEES has attended the sinking Of ArtesiAn wells.
On the nrst and second terraces from the south
cru coast and In the districts adjoining the
eastern borders the rainfall 4 ample. and agrt-
CULTURE y carried On coniOinIly With cattls