Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-03
BLACK AND WHITE IN AFRICA.
vast Prcpondernnce of Natives In
Even the Southern Colonies.

1 ii-DiIpu MALL
Very curious misconceptions are pre-
valent az TO the relative proportions Of the
black and white population Of Africa,
| South and Central. It f.. OF course. not
possible TO give with any accuracy the
numbers Of natives I'm those portions. Of
the centre OF the vast continent which
have not come under British control
either direct or indirect. These provinces
remain practically I'm the state in which
/ Livingstone, and other explorers found
them,
In South Africa however and I'm what
is known as British Central Africa, figures
are obtainable which are approximately
/ reliable, although 10 must always be borne
in mind that the white population OF q
! comparatively young and moro or less UNI
settled continent is necessarily unstable,
and inclined 10 shift from one centre to
another.
In every case throughout South Africa,
the black population outnumhers the
wnitO to a greater or lesser extent; i'm
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 $4,000
| whites. The natives are mostly con-
! fined TO the northern portions OF the
republic. the Zoutpansberg, Spelonken,
and Letaba districts, and here they live
and thrive I'm their thousands The Wit
/ watorsand mine labor Is largely supplied
/ from these districts. and the Transyaal
| Government has It's native commissioners
scattered throughout the country.
There is not very much chance OF any
serious danger 10 the Transvaal from the
natives within It's borders. Small sporadic
uprl-ugs might take place among the late
| MagatO's men and the tribes under
! M'pofu; but generally speaking, the
Transvaal natives are too downtrOdden,
bullicd and cOwed TO offer armed inter-
ference
ON the other hand. the Swazies con-
stitute a serious menace, in2smuch 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 boot Of the Zulus, and a valiant
fighting race. II they attack the Beers
or come over the Tr3nsvaal border IL
viii be a serious and not easily quelled
affair
/ In the Cape Colony there are 1Goo00e
natives and 90 white. Between these
\ two, 10 must be remembered, there are
several thousands Of Malays and "Cape
| Boys" the latter Of whom are practically
| half-castes. and the former TO all in
! tents and purposes whites. The Malays
| form an integral. reliable, and consider
/ able portion OF the population Of Cape
! Town and its suburbs. They are an
! AahOmctans and have their own mos
! ques aud hadIies or priests. Most
! law-abiding. thrifty. and honest they
make excellent and desirable citizens.
| They are, moreover, among the most
! loyal Of her MIjestys subjects.
/ In Basuto.and which lies on the borders
! of tho Orange Free State there are 10000
/ natives and barely coo whites. The ma
tives are excellent agricui-urists. and,
next TO the Zulus. perhaps, The best speci-
mems of any OF the black races Of the
| sub-COntinent.
The most recent portion Of South Az
/ RIGA 10 come under the British sway is
! Rhodes.a. which embraces the combined
provinces OF Matabeleland. Mash0naland.
| Manicaland. and a portion Of what was
/ formerly Linch-We's country. Naturally.
/ being as yet barely cOlonizod the dispro-
/ portion Of races is enormous. I'm Rhode
| sia there are over "a million natives and
! less than 5000 whites. At the same time
/ &c may safely bee taken for granted that
4 It is 20 this portion OF the Continent that
/ the tide of emigration will set during the
next few years.
! In British Central Africa there are
| $4,000 natives and 500 whites. This huge
| tract OF country. although under British
| influence viii take many years 20 colo
| nze, and is and bound TO remain for q
| long while. q "black mans country"
Bechuanaland which is now formally
/ annexed to the Cape Colony and includes
the vast tract Of land at one time known
| as Khama's Country, numbers 10000 MAJ
| tves and 1000 whites. The latter are
mainly farmers transport riders store
| keepers. and that section Of the police
formerly called the B. u. p, or Bechu-
analand Border Police. "a very fine body
OF men, to all interts and purposes
semi-military corps of mounted infantry.
Natal contains within its borders no
| fewer than $4,000 natives. almost an
| Zulus (Natal is reckoned as including
Zuzuland proper, and 5000 white folk
There are thus twelve natives 10 every
white inhabitant. The Zulus are a fine,
/ healthy. outstanding race. and when not
contaminated by European influence,
customs, and Vices (for the Zulu is very
imitatiVe), they are reliable. Trustworthy
| honorable. and. in short. q Tribe OF Ma
/ lures nObiemen Unfortunately they
easily deter0rate. but when isolated i'm
their own locations they keen mp an the
| traditions Of fearless indcDendc1co.
They are loyal TO England.
By "a curious confederation OF events.
which IS not without It's bearing upon ihe
manner i'm which the Beers trea1 natives.
according To their immemcrial custom,
the Orange Free State presents the neli-
est approach 10 equality between the TWO
races. Here there are 10000 natives and
5000 white. or about two and n half 10
one. There is a lesson I'm this which may
bear evil fruit I'm the near future
ta. if'aI Wnf.e population of the whole
Of South Africa is approximately $1,000.
of which 5000 may Doe classed as Dutch
and 3SSo00 as English. IN sympathy at
any rate. If not 10y birth
Hamilton's Trees to Go.