Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-30
THE BLACK TERROR.
What Would Happen if African Ma
tfves Rose Against the Whites.

ives rose Against the " mites.
From the London Mail.
Very curious misconceptions are preva-
lent as to the relative proportions of the
black and white population of Africa, South
and Central. 1t is, of course, not possible
to give with any accuracy the numbers of
natives in those portions of the center of
the vast continent which have not come
under British control, either direct or ind-
rect. These provinces remain practically in
the state in which Livingstone and other
explorers found them.
In South Africa, however, and in what is
known British Central Africa, figures are
obtainable which are approximately relia-
BILE, although 1t must always be borne In
mind that the white population of a COM
paratively young and more or less unset
tied continent is necessarily unstable and
inclined to shift from one center to an
other.
In every case throughout South Africa
the black population outuumbers the white
to greater or lesser extent; in some in
stances the disprOportion is stupendous, 5
in Natal, Rhodesia and British Central
Africa.
The center of interest in the present
juncture is naturally the Transvaal where
there are $4,000 natives and 80, 900 whites.
The natives are mostly confined TO the
northern portions of the republic, the Lout-
pansberg, Spelonken and Letaba districts,
and here they live and thrive in their thou
sands. The Witwatersrand mine labor is
largely supplied from these districts and
the Transvaal government has its native
commissioners scattered throughout the
country.
There is not very much chance of any
serious danger to the TFanSVaal from the
natives within its borders. Small sporadic
uprisings might take place among the late
Magato's men and the tribes under NJ pefu;
but, generally speaking, the TranSVaal ma
tjVpS 0OWD-trOddpu hulliad
cowed to offer armed interference
On the other hand, the SwaZies conSti
tute serious menace, inasmuch as they
bitterly resented the handing over of their
country to Boer authorities and have over
and over again pleaded for direct British
control. The Swazies are an offshoot of
the Zulus. and valiant fighting race. If
they attack the Beers or come over the
Transvaal border, 1t will be a serious and
not easily quelled affair.
In the Cape Colony there are 600 900 ma
tives and 100000 whites. Between these
two it must be remembered, there are sew
eral thousands of MalayS and Cape Boys"
the latter of whom are practically half
castles and the former to all intents and
purposes whites. The Malays form an in
tegral reliable, and considerable portion OF
the population of Cape Town and its sub
urbs. They are all Mohammedans, and
have their own MOSQUES and hadjies. or
priests. Most aW-abding. thrifty and hon
est, they make excellent and desirable citi-
zens They are, moreover. among the most
loyal of her majestys subjects.
In Basutoland, which lies on the borders
of the Orange Free State, there are 100000
natives and barely COO whites. The ma
tives are excellent agriculturists. and. next
to the zulus. perhaps the best specimens
of any of the black races of the subconti-
nent.
The most recent portion of South Africa
to come under the British sway is Rho
desa, which embraces the combined PROV
inceS of Northumberland, MaShonaland, Mani
caland and portion of what was formerly
I in hIUa ntrV Nnf 1ltr laE,,
yet barely coioniZed, the disproportion of
races is enormous. In Rhodesia there are
over million natives and less than 1000
whites. AT the same time 1t may safely be
taken for granted that it is to this portion
of the continent that the tide of emigration
will set during the next few years.
In British Central Africa there are $50 900
natives and 500 whites. This huge tract of
country. although under British influence
will take many years to coloniZe, and is
and bound to remain for long while a
BLACK mans country"
Bechuanaland, which is now formally an
nexed to the Cape Colony. and includes the
Khamas country, numbers 80, 900 natives
and 1000 whites. The latter are mainly
farmers, transport riders, storekeeperS and
that section of the police formerly called
the B. B. p, or Bechuanaland border police
a very fine body of men, to all intents and
purposes a semi-military corps of mounted
infantry.
Natal contains within its borders no
fewer than $4,000 natives, almost all Zulus
natal is reckoned as including Zululand
proper and $4,000 white folk. There are
thus twelve natives to every white inhabft-
ant. The Zulus are fine, healthy, ,lp-
standing race, and. when not conta minated
by European influence. customs and vices
tfor the Zulu is very imitative) they are re-
liable. trustworthy honorable and in short.
tribe of natures noblemen. Unfortunate
ly. they easily deteriorate but when fso-
lated in their own locations they keep up
all the traditions of fearless independ-
ence. They are loyal to England.
BY a curious conca tenation of events
which is not without its bearing upon the
manner in which the Beers treat natives
according to their immemorial custom the
Orange Free State presents the nearest ap-
proach to equality between the two races
Here there are 100000 natives and 10000
whites, or about two ana half to oue