The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-01
THE SOUTH AFRICAN DOMINION

a shield From behind 1t the government
viii! carry out its policy OF extending its
influence over the great South African do
minion. A recent volume OF the series
known as the STORY of the Ma
tons gives the best existing de-
scription Of the political. as well
as the physical. condition Of the territory
already acquired as well as that Of the
great areas now only partly under British
control A synopsis OF IL may AFFORD
better understanding OF the events as
they will arise.
Colony, Natal and GriquaIand West. The
independent governments are the Orange
Free State and the South African repuo-
lie or Transvaal. Between these and
around the coast Kaffraria. Zuluiand and
Basutoland. Bechuanaland. native dis
tricss, under British protectorate, vary
ing somewhat in form. North of all these
IS Namaquaiand, Maiabeleland. and other
tribal territories, much of which is now
called Rhodesia and formed the property.
but which is now under the supervision
OF B4,ish commissioner. To the west
on the coast is the Portuguese settlement
OF Delagoa bay, and on the eastern coast
is a strip claimed by Germany.
The acquisition OF territory has been
gradual. acd there has been steady de-
velopment following occupation Cape
Colony is the oldest OF the settled COM
munities. and It's history as a colony indi-
Gates pretty we'll the stages through
which the others are passing. Since the
management of its affairs has been In the
hands of its own people the Cape Colony
has made great stride in prosperity.
Its principal industries are stu pastoral
and agricultural, but these are now car
ried on in a much more effective way
than formerly. The great Karoo plains.
thiniy speckled with succulent plants. and
the long grassy slopes further to the
north. are covered with nocks of merino
sheep and Angora goats. which are kept
up to 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 great
deal OF labor has been expended in max
Ing reservoirs from which gardens and
orchards can be irrigated. and recently
much success has attended the sinking of
artesian wells. On the first and second
terraces from the southern coast and In
the districts adjoining the eastern borders
the rainfall is ample, and agriculture is
carried on conformity with cattle breeding
Wheat and maize are the principal crops.
but oats are grown conformity, and almost
every kind of vegetable and fruit is abun-
dant. In the southwestern part of the
colony--the part settled In the seventeenth
century-the culture OF wheat and the
vine is carried on. Sufficient wheat, in
deed, is not at present grown for home
consumption and the supply cf shipping.
because the farmers have not been able
10 keep pace with the sudden and rapidly
increasing demand caused by the mining
industry In the north but. according to
Mr.. Theaf there Is reason to believe that
the large importation Of recent years will
rot continue much longer. The quality
of the wines and spirits made has been
much improved Of late, though II does not
ye, satisfy European and American
paiatcs. ostriehes have been tanned, and
their feathers form an important item in
the trade returns. on the other hand.
skins OF wild animals have quite disap-
lsai 1- rssE bn
country once teemed has heen extermin-
ated. The output Of ivory. also. has
greatly fallen OFF, ard the little that Is
now exported is brought from the distant
interior.
Excluding us dependencies. this colony
has a population of s6s I.o Europeans and
Us go colorea people. Of these last over
half are OF Bau;u stock; the others are
mixed breeds. Asiatics descendants Of
freed slaves. and HottemtotS. All are sub
iect 20 the same laws. except in 4 few
particulars where IL has been found neces-
sary 80 make special provision for BantJi
communities such as the recognition OF
communal tenure NJ iaad in certain loca-
lions. the prohibition ~ the sale %
sprituous liquor I'm defined areas, anG the
supervision 81 these people when they live
In undue number on farms owned by Eu-
ropsans. Fer many years missionaries II
nearly every Christian society have been
laboring among the Bautg communities,
the mixed breeds. aud the Hottensots bat
the result upon the whole ~ dIscoura gins
10 those who lock for hisa Improvement.
Ths Assattc< in the Cape Colony are
chiefly descendants OF people from the
Spice islands. who were seuJ hero In The
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and
were commonly termed Ma'ays. Those Of
pure blood are almost without exception
MohAurncfans Il seems. however. tha,
raany Atr.cans and people OF mixed blood
have adopted Islam and. as 'hcy have IN
ter1uary5s.8. the so-callci Masavs now pre-
sent every variety q appearance tset~eef,
ts,o pare Assasic. the pure European and
the pnrs Af-.can- The Malay inhabitants
ot the Capc Cosaas sre e. i higher ,ype
than TIE Bsnta 2nd Efo,tsutots Many g.
tserl are eood mechanics. and the amount
of property tia; they aoI8 is considerable
They are confined entirely g towns.
No expense ix spared to orias jas,ica
wttAla she resch q every enc There ara
seventy eight s:Ipsndlayy magistrates,
who ,ry petty eva aaG criminal cases N
Is many districts. The supreraa court