New Britain herald., 1922-10-13
NATIVES OF AFRICA
 SEEKING EXPANSION
Younger People Want Govern. .ment Like Those in Europe

Wasnlngton, D. C., Oct. 13-The ln- tellegensia nBasutoland--the Young }(asutos"-are galling under the rule Lof their chiefs and are eager to make their government over on something like European basis, according to dispatches from South America.
 All of which means little" 1t is pointed out in bulletin from the Washington, D. c. headquarters of the National Geographic Society, "until one learns that Basutoland Is a osrt of Indian territory of South Africa, that it is probably the most progressive of the native states of the continent, and that to large extent movements there are acepted as yfophetic of de- velopments over the whole of South Africa. Few Whites Permitted in Reservation
 The centering of attention on South Africa" continues the bulletin, brings out significant facts about the government of the region. that. though elementary to Africans and British. are not generally. known on this side of the world. For example. British South Africa and the self gov erning dominion, the Union of South Africa. are not synonymous. Outside the Union-and inside it-are regions not connected governmentally with the Union, but administered directly by the British crown. Of these no better example could be found than Basuto- land, an area the size of the kingdom of Belgium, entirely surrounded by the provinces or states of the Union but not subject to them.
 This region is in effect a gigantic reservation, set apart solely for na- tives. and whites are not. permitted to own land oh it. The few whites in the section are officials, missionaries and traders. A species of communism is in force such as. that practiced among primitive peoples or under primitive conditions in many parts of the world. Cattle are pastured on commons and the chiefs allot plots for agricultural use.
 Most Enlightened of Natives.
 T1n Basutoland the British have in large measure practiced a hands, off policy. In effect they have mere ly built fgurative fence around the country: have managed the main ma chinery of the government, using Ba- suto laws and customs wherever pos- sible; and have left practically all nor,~nlatters to the chiefs to man. age in their own way, under a para mount chief who is sort of kinglet. Education in Basutoland is almost entirely in the hands of the mission aries
 Under British guidance and mis- sionary tutelage, the Basutos have forged rapidly ahead to the generally recognized position of the most en- frightened group of South African na- tives. In a century their numbers have grown from 10000 to nearly half a million; and there are almost as many cattle as people in the coun- try
 An African Switzerland.
 s Physically Basutoland is the Switzerland of South Africa, contain ing the slopes and some of the sum mits of the Drakensberg, some of the latter reaching an altitude of H. 00o feet. And the little country has traditions not unlike those of Flu ropes mountain republic. It's creator, Moshesh. is considered the brainiest and most able of African chiefs-a dusky Solomon, He welcomed to his mountain stronghold oppressed ma tives of all tribes and prided himself on his even handed justice. His people were welded into a nation, success fully defended their liberty against all native attacks, and were even vic tors on several occasions against Boer and British forces. Finally, when Moshesh grew old he asked that his country be placed under British pro lection.
 No paramount chief has worn ade- quately the mantle of Moshesh. and now that education is spreading the younger generation Is becoming res tive under a system built on vassalage, Some leaders are looking to move ment not unlike that which has taken place among many American Indians: The dividing up of the tribal lands, and the substitution of direct citizen ship under a democratic state for al- legiance to chiefs"