Idaho County free press., 1923-11-01

They might almost be considered sub
jects of the British South Africa COM
pany The company has all along laid
claim to ownership Of the lands on
which the natives live except the
areas recently set apart as reserva-
TONS The white population Of the
country numbers about 10000
Though at present separate govern
mentally, the two RhOdesias demand
consideration together. They repre-
sent together the field of activities Of
Cecil Rhodes South Africa company
and have considered uniting, though
for the present at least the idea has
been given up. The two Rhodesias
make up a region shaped like but
terfiy. Southern Rhodesia forms the
left wing, while Northern Rhodesia
forms both the right wing and the tail,
the latter stretching up to the region
of Africa's Great Lakes
Both regions lie wholly within the
tropics, but Northern Rhodesia ex-
tends farther into the theoretical hot
country. Owing to its high altitude,
however, its temperature is not so
high as might be expected.
While Southern Rhodesia has a
white population of about $4,000 and
a native population of something over
10000, Northern Rhodesia has less
than 1000 whites and nearly a mil
lion blacks. 1t is still the happy hunt
ing ground for the human geographer,
where he may study the effects of a
plateau region upon remote tribes that
have been little affected by the en-
cr6achments of the white man.
The illusion that all savage peoples
do pretty much as they please is dis
PEELED upon a cursory examination Of
a legal system that has penalties Of
muHlation for minor offenses, whose
judges must fold their hands in GER
tain way when they try cases, and
where every native male inevitably
becomes something Of lawyer, since
the daily public trials furnish the
principal village advertisements.
Customs Of the Natives.
The quips at woman's extravaganza
in dress, and the variability Of modes,
which often provide the inevitable
topical song at American musical
shows, find their prototypes in the
-ninstrelsy Of a Wemba swain whose
metrical plant is, 30 woman, you are
like a greedy wagtail, pecking up all
you can get" But "mother-in-law"
Joke in this tribe would result disas-
trously for it's perpetrator. So great
is the reverence shown this relative
that husband must step aside out
of the path if he meets her abroad.
Should he come upon her unawares,
he must bow his head, cast his eyes
upon the ground, and not dare look
at her. Nor may he address her at
all until after his first child is born.
Women anoint their bodies with cas-
tor oil, they whiten their faces with
chalk at new-moon time, but the va
riety of ways they dress their hair
also is a subject for native humor
Defornatlon of their teeth forms an
other adornment; but the practice
which. their husbands complain about
Is their penchant for acquiring rings
and bracelets. The latter range from
bands of copper to spirals of metal
that reach from wrist to elbow, and
similar devices used as anklets.
With the ever-increasing overflow OF
civilized peoples, Northern Rhodesia
soon may be pre-empted by colonists.
Indeed. the movement Of natives to
reserves may indicate that such an in
flow already is taking place. Though
IT lies across the equator, the
Rhodesian plateau is adapted to the
white man by reason Of climate that
has no extremes. Moreover, its boom
cities of Bulawayo and Salisbury pos
sess hotels, clubs, business houses and
apartments, built in the flush OF hope
that 1t would be second Rand.
Much Of Northern Rhodesia is suit
able for farming; there are vast tracts
of grazing land. Maize and tobacco
are at present principal crops. Wheat
cotton and citrus fruits may be grown
successfully. The timber awaits trans
facilities. Gold, copper zinc
and lead mines already are worked