St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-11-15
Black and White In Africa.

Wy 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
nave not come under British control
either direct or indirect. These provinces
remain practically in the state in which
Livingstone and other explorers found
them.
In South Africa however, and in what
IS known as British Central Africa, figures
are obtainable which are approximately
reliable, although it must always be
porne In mind that the white population
OF comparatively young and more or
less unsettled continent is necessarily I'M
stabbed, and inclined to shift from one
centre to another.
In every case throughout South Africa
the black population outnumbers the
white to greater or lesser extent in
some Instances the disproportion is
stupendous, as in Natal, Rhodesia and
British Central Africa.
The centre of interest in the present
Juncture is naturally the Transvaal,
where there are $4,000 natives and
2oo.OO whites. The natives are mostly
confined to the northern portions of the
republic, the Zoutpansberg, Spelonken
and Letaba districts, and here they live
and thrive in their thousands. The
Witwatersand mine labor is largely sup
Piled from these districts, and the Trans
vaal Government has its native commits
sloners scattered throughout the country.
There is not very much chance OF any
serious danger to the Transvaal from the
natives within its borders. Small spo.
radio uprisings might take place among
the late Magato's men and the tribes
under M'pefu; but. generally speaking,
the Transvaal natives are too down
trodden, bullied and cowed to offer armed
interference.
On the other hand, the Swazes 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 off
shoot of the Zulus, and valiant fighting
race. they attack the Beers or come
over the Transvaal border it will be a
serious and not easily quelled affair.
In the Cape Colony there are 100000
natives and 100000 whites. Between
these two, it must be remembered, there
are several thousands OF Malays and
Cape Boys" the latter of whom are
practically halfcastes, and the former
to all intents and purposes whites. The
Malays form an integral, reliable and
considerable portion OF the population
OF Cape Town and its suburbs. They are
all Mahometans, and have their own
mosques and hadiies, or priests. Most
law abiding, thrifty, and honest, they
make excellent and desirable citizens.
They are. moreover, among the most
loyal OF Her Majesty's subjects.
In Basutoland, which lies on the bor-
ders of the Orange Free State, there are
100000 natives and barely 600 whites.
The natives are excellent agrlculturists,
and, next to the Zulus perhaps, the best
specimens Of any Of the black races OF the
sub continent.
The most recent portion ofSouth Africa
to come under the British sway is Rho
desia, which embraces the combined
provinces Of Matabeleland, Mashonaland
Manicaland, and portion of what was
formerly Linch-We's country. Naturally,
being as yet barely colonized, the dispro-
portion of races is enormous. In Rho
desia there are over million natives and
less than 5000 whites. At the same time
it may safely be taken for granted that
it is to this portion oil the continent that
the tide of emigration will set during the
next few years.
In British Central Africa there are $780,
900 natives and 500 whites. This huge
tract OF )untry, although under British
influence, will take many years to colon
ize, and is and bound to remain for a
long while "black mans country"
,chuanaland, which is now formally
annexed to the Cape Colony, and in
cludes the vast tract Of land at one time
known as Khama's Country, numbers
250,00 natives and 1000 whites. The
latter are mainly farmers, transport
riders, store keepers, and that section Of
the police formerly called the B. B. P, or
Bechuanaland Border Police. very fine
body Of men, to all intents and purposes
semi. military corps of mounted in
fantry.
Natal contains within its borders no
fewer than $4,000 natives, almost all
Zulus Natal is reckoned as including Zu-
luland proper), and $4,000 white folk.
There are thus twelve natives to every
white inhabitant. The Zulus are fine
healthy outstanding race, and when not
contaminated by European influence,
customs and vices (for the Zulu is very
imitative), they are reliable, trust worthy,
honorable, and, in short, tribe of ma
ture's noblemen. Unfortunately, they
easily deteriorate, but when isolated in
their own locations they keep up all the
traditions of fearless independence.
They are loyal to England.
BY a curious confederation of events
which is not without its bearing upon
the manner in which the Beers treat ma
tives, according to their immemorial GUS
tom, the Orange Free State presents the
nearest approach to equality between
the two races. Here there are 100000
natives and $4,000 white, or about two
and half to one. There is a lesson in
this which may bear evil fruit in the near
future.
The total white population of the
whole of South Africa is approximately
$4,000, of which 100000 may be
classed as Dutch and 3SS, 000as English,
in sympathy, at any rate, il not by birth.
Il From The London Mail.
New Tourist Car Line.
Every Thursday at 3 o'clock p. M, a
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