Communications. The railways within the Colony have a length of about 550 miles, and about 440 miles are either under construction or projected. The construction cost of the existing railways was 3,066,6501., and the estimated cost of the projected lines is 2,980,000l. The Transvaal and Orange River Colony railways are worked by a joint board representing the governments of the two colonies. There are roads throughout the districts, cx-wagons being the principal means of conveyance. In the Orange River Colony there are 1,480 miles of telegraph line with 1,700 miles of wire, besides 420 miles of railway telegraph with 1,119 miles of wire. Bloemfontein is in telegraphic communication with Cape Colony, Natal, the Transvaal Colony, and Basutoland. Banks with offices in the Colony are the National Bank, the Standard Bank, the Bank of Africa, and the African Banking Corporation. The money, weights, and measures are English. The land measure, the Morgen, is equal to about 2 acres. Statistical and other Books of Reference. Correspondence relative to Assumption of Sovereignty over the Territory between the Vaal and the Orange Rivers, 1851-54; Further Correspondence relating to the Cape and Griqualand West, 1872-76; Further Correspondence on Affairs in South Africa, 1876-77: Correspondence, Reports, Despatches, Proclamations, &e., relating to the Orange Free State and Orange River Colony, 1899-1901. See also under Transvaal Colony. Census van den Oranje-Vrijstaat, opgenomen op 31 Maart, 1890. Bloemfontein, 1891. Brown (A. S. and G. G.). Guide to South Africa. London, 1904. Keane (A. H.), Africa. Vol. II. London, 1895. Kestell (J. D.), Through Shot and Flame. London, 1902. Noble (J.), Illustrated Official Handbook of the Cape and South Africa. Cape Town, Johannesburg, and London, 1893. Norris-Newman (C. L.), With the Boers in the Transvaal and Orange Free State. London, 1882. London, 1902, Cape Town, 1899. On the Heels of de Wet. By the Intelligence Officer. RHODESIA. UNDER the title of Rhodesia is included the whole of the region lying between the north and west of the Transvaal and the 22nd degree of south latitude and the southern boundaries of the Congo Free State, and having as its eastern and western boundaries the Portuguese and German spheres (see YEAR BOOK for 1898). The River Zambesi divides it into two portions, called Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia, In 1888 the portion of the Southern region which includes Matabeleland and Mashonaland was declared to be within the British sphere of influence, and on the 29th of October, 1889, a Royal Charter was granted to the British South Africa Company, conferring upon it large powers of administration to carry out the objects for which it was formed, the principal being to extend northwards the railway and telegraph systems of the Cape Colony and Bechuanaland, to encourage emigration and colonization, to promote trade and commerce, and to develop and work mineral and other concessions. The administrative system of the Company in Southern Rhodesia was prescribed by the Orders in Council of May 9, 1891, and July 18, 1894, and a new scheme was promulgated by an Order in Council, November 25, 1898, since amended by the Order in Council, February 16, 1903. In accordance with these Orders there is a Resident Commissioner appointed by the Secretary of State. To assist the Company's Administrator there is an Executive Council consisting of not less than four members appointed by the Company with the approval of the Secretary of State. A member of the Executive Council holds office for three years. The Legislative Council consists of the Administrator (president), seven nominees of the Company approved by the Secretary of State, and seven members elected by the registered voters. The Resident Commissioner sits on both Executive and Legislative Councils, without a vote. In the event of an equality of votes, the Administrator has a casting vote. The duration of each Legislative Council is three years, unless it be sooner dissolved. Ordinances passed by the Legislative Council, when assented to by the High Commissioner and published, take effect, but, within a year, may be disallowed by the Secretary of State. To this Council the Administrator submits estimates of revenue and expenditure for each financial year, and the Ordinance providing for the service of the year must be approved by the High Commissioner. For the administration of justice there is a High Court with civil and criminal jurisdiction, the judges being appointed by the Secretary of State on the nomination of the Company. In the districts there are Magistrates' Courts. There is a Secretary for Native Affairs, two chief Native Commissioners, with subordinate Native Commissioners and Assistant Native Commissioners, and, except with respect to arms, ammunition, and liquor, natives and non-natives are under the same conditions. For tribal settlements land has been reserved, the mineral rights being reserved to the Company; but, if the native occupation is disturbed, new land must be assigned, disputes being ultimately referable to the High Commissioner. The military police is placed under the direct control of the High Com missioner. Southern Rhodesia has an area of about 144,000 square miles, and is divided into two provinces, Matabeleland and Mashonaland. According to the census taken in April, 1904, the European population of the former was 7,706, Colonial natives and Asiatics 1,352. The European population of Mashonaland was 4,917, Colonial natives and Asiatics 592. The native population of Mashonaland was estimated by the Native Commis. sioners to be 378,000, and of Matabeleland, 187,000. Both tracts of country are rich in gold reefs and other minerals, and the Mashona plateaux are well adapted for agriculture and European settlement. The In Rhodesia distinct gold-fields have been discovered, their united area being estimated at 5,250 square miles. In December, 1903, about 300 companies and syndicates interested in mining and development work in the territory had been registered in Great Britain and South Africa. declared out-put of gold from 1890 up to the end of December, 1903, was 763,097 oz. The output for the year 1904 amounted to 267,737 oz. compared with 231,872 oz. for the previous year. Other minerals have been discovered, silver, copper, blende, antimony, arsenic, lead, and especially coal. A company has been formed to mine for coal throughout an area of 600 square miles, or 384,000 acres of coal-fields at Wankie, 203 miles north-west of Bulawayo. In August, 1903, Southern Rhodesia joined the South African Customs The total value of imports into Southern Rhodesia during the year 1903-4 was 1,576,6197., as compared with 1,858,5697. during 1902-3. The amount of duty collected during 1903-4 was 128,3877., as compared with 128,6737. during the previous year. The value of the exports of Southern Rhodesian produce during the period August, 1903, to March, 1904, not including goods exported to North-Western Rhodesia and to the Customs Union Territories under article 6 of the Customs Convention, was 334,7177. There are townships at Salisbury (the capital of Southern Rhodesia), Victoria, Umtali, Bulawayo, Gwelo, Enkeldoorn, Melsetter, Rusapi, Hartley, Selukwe, Tuli, and Gwanda, and the demand for building sites is increasing. The extent of land surveyed in Southern Rhodesia from 1891 to March 31, 1904, is: In Matabeleland, 11,528,240 acres ; in Mashonaland, 10,271,709 acres. This does not represent the total amount of surveyed land, as many farms have been surveyed by direction of private owners. Early in 1897 the Geodetic Survey of Southern Rhodesia was initiated under the superintendence of Sir David Gill, K.C.B., and the work was completed as far as the river Zambesi in August, 1901. The Geodetic Survey from the Zambesi northwards to Lake Tanganyika is now being carried out. At Salisbury, Bulawayo, and Umtali, there are Government offices, banks, churches, hotels, schools, and public libraries. Municipalities have been established at Bulawayo and Salisbury, and good government throughout the country provided for. Several newspapers are published at Salisbury and Bulawayo. There are hospitals at Salisbury, Bulawayo, Umtali, Victoria, and Gwelo. Eleven district surgeoncies have been established and cottage hospitals built in the districts of Hartley, Enkeldoorn, Selukwe, Filabusi, and Gwanda. In Southern Rhodesia there are about 3,000 miles of roads, post routes, &c., the maintenance of which in the year 1902-1903 cost 15,000l. There are, besides, 650 miles of cross-roads in mining districts. The Rhodesian Railway line from Vryburg to Bulawayo, worked by the Cape Railway Department, has been open for traffic since November 4, 1897. The line from Bulawayo to the Wankie coal-fields (203 miles) was com. pleted on September 21, 1903, and reached the Victoria Falls on April 25, 1904. The railway is being continued north of the Zambesi River across North-Western and North-Eastern Rhodesia to Lake Tanganyika. The branch line from Bulawayo to Gwanda, 104 miles to the south, was com pleted on September 12, 1903, and the line to the Matopos on November 1. The railway from Beira to Umtali has been extended by the Mashonaland Railway Company to Salisbury, the extension having been open for traffic since May 1, 1899. Salisbury is also now connected by rail with Bulawayo (via Hartley and Gwelo), a distance of 298 miles. There is thus through railway communication between Cape Town and Beira. The Beira railway 2ft. gauge has been widened to 3ft. 6in., the standard gauge of the South African lines, so that traffic may not be interrupted by transference of goods. A railway, with a 2ft. gauge, has been constructed from Salisbury to the Ayrshire mine in the Lomagundi District, a distance of 84 miles. The construction of a line of the standard gauge from Gwelo to Selukwe has been completed and the first train ran on August 21, 1903, and the survey of a proposed line, also of the standard gauge, from Salisbury to Mazoe is being undertaken. On March 31, 1904, there were in Southern Rhodesia 58 post offices, 15 of which are money order offices. In North-Eastern Rhodesia there were 25 post offices, being money order offices. In North-Western Rhodesia 6 post offices. The postal arrangements comprise the carriage of letters, &c., by train, coaches, carts, bicycles, and runners. In Southern Rhodesia during the year ended March 31, 1904, 1,201,564 letters and post-cards were despatched to places in South Africa, and 436,371 to places over sea. The total number of newspapers, books, and parcels despatched was 370,149 and registered articles 47,736. The postal revenue for the year ended March 31, 1904, was 23,4307., and the expenditure 25,5017. On March 31, 1904, the mileage of the Rhodesia telegraph system, including police telephone lines and the African Transcontinental Telegraph Company's line, was 3,914 miles, and consisted of 6,964 miles of wire. There were 83 telegraph offices open. The working of the African Transcontinental telegraph line, which is in the hands of the Rhodesian Telegraph Department, has now reached Ujiji viâ Blantyre and Karonga, the total length being about 1,600 miles. There is direct communication between Umtali and Beira. In 1903-04, 196,090 telegrams were received and 184,982 were despatched. The Southern Rhodesia revenue from telegraphs was 28,7537., and expenditure, 27,9297. There is, besides, an extensive telephone system in operation. The revenue received from the telephone exchanges was 4,6787. The rate for letters posted in Rhodesia to any part of South Africa is 1d. per oz., and to the United Kingdom and countries oversea 2d. per oz. The parcels rate for parcels posted in Rhodesia to any part of South Africa is 1s. 6d. per lb., and to the United Kingdom 1s. 9d. per lb. The whole tract of country north of the Zambesi, bounded on the east and west by the Portuguese possessions, and on the north by German East Africa and the Congo Independent State with the exception of the British Central Africa Protectorate to the south and west of Lake Nyasa, is (under the name of North-Eastern and North-Western Rhodesia) included in the field of operations of the British South Africa Company. [For boundaries see STATESMAN'S YEAR-BOOK for 1898.] The area of North-Eastern Rhodesia is about 120,000 square miles. In March, 1903, the European population numbered 241, nearly all being British subjects. The native population, according to the latest estimate, is very approximately 346,000. The region lying between the Lakes Nyasa, Tanganyika, Mweru, and Bangweolo, is divided into 9 Fiscal and Magisterial districts: Tanganyika, Mweru, Awemba, Luapula, and East Loangwa, West Loangwa, North Loangwa, Kafue, and Zumbo. These districts are sub-divided into 21 native divisions. The administrative headquarters are at Fort Jameson on the Tanganyika plateau. The most important centres are Fife, the station of the African Lakes Corporation, and Abercorn, both on the Stevenson road; but each of the districts contains one or more stations for collectors and police. By an arrangement with the Imperial Government the territorial defence of North-Eastern Rhodesia is undertaken by the forces of the British Central Africa Protectorate. The tract of country comprising the northern plateau and M'peseni's country to the south is stated to be healthy. It is open and wellwatered and suitable for cattle, Wheat and European fruits are grown and the fibre plants which abound in the region provide material for a new industry which promises satisfactory results. Land has been taken up for experiments in coffee and cotton growing, and the latter has already shown very promising results. Gold has been found in the south of this region, and coal on the shore of Lake Nyasa on land belonging to the Company, though beyond its sphere of administration. The Stevenson road for a distance of 140 miles between Lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika has been re-made. External communication is mainly by steamers on Lake Nyasa, and the telegraph line which has been continued from Zomba in the Protectorate to Ujiji on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, in German East Africa. Barotseland, or North-Western Rhodesia, is situated to the north-west of Southern Rhodesia and is bounded on the north by the Congo Free State, on the west by Portuguese West Africa, on the east by North-Eastern Rhodesia, and on the south by German territory and the Zambesi River. Five stations have been established, that at Kalomo being the headquarters of the Administration. A postal service has been organised with six postal stations. The mails for the territory are made up in Bulawayo, which is about 280 miles from the Victoria Falls, on the Zambesi River, and the service is performed by train to the Falls and thence by runners. A native police force has been established, the Commandant being Colonel Colin Harding, C. M.G. Regulations are in force dealing with trading, liquor, &c. The slave trade has been suppressed. The territory is populous and wellwatered, and adapted for pasture as well as for the cultivation of rice, wheat, oats, coffee or rubber. Lealui, on the east bank of the Zambesi, is the chief kraal of King Lewanika. North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia are administered by the British South Africa Company under the Barotseland-North-Western Rhodesia Order in Council, 1899, and the North-Eastern Rhodesia Order in Council, 1900. The capital of the Company was originally 1,000,0007.; in 1893 it was increased to 2,000,0007.; in 1895, to 2,500,000l. ; in 1896, to 3,500,000l. ; and on April 21, 1898, it was authorised to be increased to 5,000,000l. The amount of capital issued is 4,568,4277.; debentures, 1,250,000l. The administrative revenue now accrues from mining, trading, and professional licences, hut tax, customs, and postal and telegraph services. For the year ending March 31, 1903, the revenue from the three territories (including the head office receipts) was 633,0387., and the expenditure, 1,051,400%. Administrator of Southern Rhodesia.-Sir W. H. Milton, K.C.M.G. Resident Commissioner.-Lieut. Colonel Sir Marshal J. Clarke, K. C. M.G. (Salisbury). London offices of the British South Africa Company, 2, London Wall Buildings, E. C. REFERENCES. Reports of the Select Committee on the Incursion into the South African Republic, &c. with Evidence. London, 1897.-Report of Select Committee of the Cape of Good Hope House of Assembly on the Jameson Raid. London, 1897.-Charter of the British South Africa Company, October 29, 1889, with Orders in Council of 1891 and 1894. London, 1898. -Report by Sir R. E. R Martin on the Native Administration of the British South Africa Company, London, 1897.-Correspondence on proposed changes, &c., 1898.-Papers relating to British south Africa Company, 1899.-Papers and Correspondence respecting Mashonaland and Matabeleland, 1890-1896. Annual Reports of the British South Africa Company.-Report on the Native Disturb. ances in Rhodesia, 1896-97. London, 1898.-Information as to Mining in Rhodesia, London, 1899, 1900, 1902. Papers respecting the Treaty between Great Britain and Portugal, signed June 11, 1891. [Manica Arbitration.] London, 1897. Bent (J. Th.), The Ruined Cities of Mashonaland. 8. London, 1893. Bertrand (A.), Au Pays des Ba-rotsi. Paris, 1898. [Also Eng. Trans. London, 1898.]. Brown (A. S. and G. G.), Guide to South Africa. London, 1904. Brown (W. H.), On the South African Frontier. [Mashonaland and Matabeleland.] London, 1899. Bryce (J.), Impressions of South Africa. London, 1897. |