Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-09-08
Geographic News
Bulletins by the
National Geographic Society
BASUTOLAND

The intellegensia in Basutoland-
the Young Basutos'-are Calling
under the rule of their chiefs and are
eager to make their government over
or something like an European basis,
according to dispatches from South
Africa.
"All of which means little" 1t is
| pointed out in a bulletin from the
Washington, ID. c., headquarters of
the National Geographic Society,
until one learns that Basutoland
is a sort of Indian Territory OF
South Africa, that it is probably the
| most progressive of the native states
o fthe continent, and that to a large
extent movements there are accepted
as prophetic of developments owe
the whole of South Africa.
Few Whites Permitted in Reserva-
ton
THE centering of attention on
South Africa" continues the bulle-
tin. brings out significant facts 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
governing dominion, the Union OF
South Africa. ne not synonymous.
Outside the Union-and inside it
are regions not connected govern
mently with the Union. but admins +
tered directly by the British crown.
OF these no better example could
be found than Basutoland, an area
the size of the kingdom of Belgium,
entirely surrounded by the provin-
ces or states of the Union, but not
subject to them.
This region is in effect a gigantic
reservation set apart solely for ma
tives, and whites are not permitted
to own land in it. The few whites
IN the section are officials, mission
aries and traders. A species of COM
munism is in force such as thai
practiced among primitive peoples
or under primitive conditions III
many parts of the world. Cattle are
pastured on commons and the chief
allots plots for agricultural use.
Most Enlightened of Natives
"In Basutoland the British have
in large measure practiced a hands
off policy. In effect they have mere
ly built a figurative fence around
the country; have managed the
main machinery of the government,
using Basuto laws and customs
wherever possible; and have lett
practically all minor matters to the
chiefs to manage in their w way
under a paramount chief who is a
sort of kinglet. Education in Basu-
toland is almost entirely in the
hands of missionaries.
Under British guidance and mis-
sionary tutelage. the Basutos have
forged rapidly ahead to the general
ly recognized position of the most
enlightened group of South African
natives. In a century their num-
bers have grown from 10000 to near
w half a million; and there are IL
most as many cattle as people in the
country.
An African Switzerland
physically Basutoland is the
Switzerland of South Africa, con-
tanning the slopes and some of the
SUBMITS of the Drakensberg, some
of the latter reaching an altitude OF
1900 feet. And the little country
has traditions not unlike those OF
Europe's Mountain Republic, Its
creator. Moshesh, is considered the
brainiest and most able of African
chiefs-a ducky Solomon. He well
coined to his mountain stronghold
oppressed natives of all tribes and
prided himself on his ev~en-handed
Justice. His people were welded
into a nation, successfully
their liberty against all native at
tacks, and were even victors on sew
eral occasions against Boer and
British forces. Finally, when Mo-
shesh grew old he asked that his
country be placed under British pro-
lection.
mo paramount chief has worn
adequately the mantle of Moshesh,
and now that education is spread
ing the younger generation is be-
coming FESTIVE under a system built
on vassalage. Some leaders are
locking to a movement not unlike
that which has taken place among
many American Indians: The divid-
ing up of the tribal lands, and the
substitution of direct citizenship I'M
der a democratic state for allegiance
to chiefs"