In 1904 Chinese labour was introduced for mining purposes under an Ordinance with restrictive conditions. On December 31, 1904, 23,052 Chinese were in the Transvaal, and 6,274 on the way to it. Besides its mining industries, the Transvaal has mills, saw-mills, brick-kilns, and lime-kilns. Commerce and Communications The value of imports into and exports from the Transvaal, including bullion and specie, in two years, was: The import duties amounted in 1903, to 2,086,4507. The Transvaal is included in the South African Customs Union. For the year 1903 the principal imports and exports were : Of the imports in 1903 the value of 3,516,000l. was imported by Delagoa Bay. In 1903 the value of 11,655,0007. was imported from Great Britain. The various railway lines connect the Transvaal with the Orange River Colony, Cape Colony, Natal, and Portuguese East Africa. The total length open is about 915 miles, and under construction, about 179 miles. On February 13, 1903, a proclamation was issued providing that the railway systems of the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies be formally invested in their respective Governments from November 1, 1903, under a joint Board of Control, which will work the lines as one system. The total length of line open in the two colonies at the end of 1903 was 1,442 miles; the receipts for the year amounted to 5,374,7347., and the working expenses to 5,534,7967. A great extension of the railway system is projected. The Colony is in telegraphic communication with the surrounding Colonies as far north as Blantyre, near Lake Nyasa. The lines within the Colony have a length of 2,442 miles. There were, in 1902, 162 post-offices and agencies in the Colony. The post and telegraph revenue in the year 1903-04 was 358,3137., and expenditure 384,1297. The banks in the Colony are the National Bank, the African Banking Corporation, the Bank of Africa, the Natal Bank, the Nederland Bank, the Robinson Bank, and the Standard Bank, the paid-up capital of all the seven amounting to over 6,000,000. The Post Office savings bank at the end of 1903 had 766,6897. at the credit of depositors. Weights and measures are the same as in Cape Colony; the currency is English and late South African Republic money. Swaziland, situated at the South-eastern corner of the Transvaal, was, by the Convention of 1894, placed under the administration of the South African Republic, in succession to which the British Government has now the control of the territory. The native chief, Busi, son of the late chief Bunu, is a child about six years of age, and the regency is in the hands of Lobatsibein, widow of Ubandini. During the Boer war and up to October, 1904, the British took little part in the administration, and affairs lapsed into confusion. Many mineral and agricultural concessions were granted, sometimes with exemption from customs duties, and the country was covered with an intricate network of claims which rendered a satisfactory form of administration difficult. On October 3, 1904, a proclamation was issued at Pretoria dealing with general administration and providing for the appointment of a commission to enquire into the concessions. The Governor will have the power of expropriation, and persons expropriated will receive compensation out of the proceeds of a loan which will be repaid out of Swaziland revenues. Minerals will be sub ject to a royalty of 23 per cent. and a tax of 10 per cent. on profits, in addition to the rent for the concession. The agricultural and grazing rights of the natives will be protected. Circuit courts are to be established and the Transvaal laws enforced. A special criminal court has been established in place of trial by jury, owing to the lack of competent jurors. Civil cases between natives will be settled in accordance with native customs. The seat of administration will be Mbabaan. Swaziland has an area of 6,536 square miles, with a population (according to the census of April, 1904) of 85,484, of whom 84,531 are natives, 55 other coloured persons. and 898 Europeans. The natives are mostly of the Zulu type, with language and customis similar to those of the Zulus. They are still deeply sunk in barbarism. For the year ended June 30, 1904, the revenue amounted to 36,4957., and the expenditure to 36,6621. The natives pay taxes similar to those paid by natives in the Transvaal. The agricultural products are maize, sorghum, pumpkins, ground nuts, and beans, grown only in sufficient quantities for local supply. The territory is reported to be rich in minerals, but it has not yet been systematically explored. On October 11, 1904, Swaziland entered the South Africa Customs Union. There is bi-weekly communication by coach between Mbabaan and Wonderfontein on the Pretoria Delagoa Bay Railway. Resident Commissioner.-Mr. Moony. Statistical and other Books of Reference. Treaty (Sand River) of 1852; Conventions of 1881 and 1884; Correspondence on the Affairs of South Africa (Annexation of the Transvaal, &c.), 1876-77; Further Correspond; ence, 1878; ditto (petition for independence, &c.), 1879; ditto, 1880; ditto (Boer war), 1881Report on the Finances of the Transvaal, 1877-85; Reports of Select Committee of British House of Commons on British South Africa, with Evidence. London, 1897; Report of Select Committee of Cape of Good Hope House of Assembly on the Jameson Raid. London, 1897; Report of the Lands Settlement Commission, South Africa London, 1901; Report by Sir D. Barbour on the Finances of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony. London, 1901; Proclamations and Despatches concerning affairs in South Africa, 1900-01; Further Correspondence relating to Affairs in South Africa, January and July, 1902; Papers relating to the Progress of Administration in the Transvaal. (Cd. 1551) and (Cd. 1553), 1903; Papers relating to the Finances of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony (Cd. 1552), 1903; Various papers and correspondence relating to the South African Republic and the Transvaal Colony (too numerous for insertion here) are given in detail in the catalogues issued by Messrs. King, Parliamentary Booksellers, Westminster. Local Laws of the South African Republic for 1886-93. In 3 series. Pretoria, 1888-94. Ninth Annual Report of the Witwatersrand Chamber of Mines for the year ending December 31, 1898. Johannesburg, 1899. Transvaal Mines Department: Statistics for Half-Year ending December 31, 1902. Pretoria, 1903. Noble (John), Illustrated Official Handbook of the Cape and South Africa. 8. Capetown and London, 1893. Rapport v. d. Staats Myn Ingenieur over het jaar 1898 (with an English transation). Pretoria, 1899. Amery (L. S.), (Editor), "The Times" History of the War in South Africa. London In progress]. Argus Annual and South African Directory. Cape Town. Baillie (F. D.), Mafeking: A Diary of the Siege. London, 1900. Botha (P. M.), From Boer to Boer and Englishman. [English Translation from the Dutch]. London, 1900. Brown (A. S. and G. G.), Guide to South Africa. London, 1904. Bryce (J.), Impressions of South Africa. 3rd ed. London, 1899. Butler (Sir W. F.), The Life of Sir George Pomeroy-Colley. London, 1899. Cappon (J.), Britain's Title in South Africa. 2nd. ed. London, 1902. Churchill (W. Spencer), London to Ladysmith via Pretoria. London, 1900.- Ian Hamilton's March. London, 1900. Cloete (H.), History of the Great Boer Trek and the Origin of the South African Republics. London, 1899. Creswicke (L.), South Africa and the Transvaal War. 7 vols. London, 1900-02.-South Africa and its Future. London, 1903. Cunliffe (F. H. E.), History of the Boer War. 2 vols. London, 1904. Davis (A.), The Native Problem in South Africa. Doyle (A. Conan), History of the Great Boer War. New ed. London, 1902. FitzPatrick (J. P.), The Transvaal from Within. London, 1899. Goldmann (C. S.), South African Mines. 3 vols. London, 1895-96.--With General French and the Cavalry in South Africa. London, 1902. Guyot (Yves), Boer Politics. London, 1900. Hamilton (J. A.), The Siege of Mafeking. London, 1900. Hillier (A. H.), South African Studies. London, 1900. Keane (A. H.), Africa, Vol. II.: South Africa. 2nd ed. London, 1904.-The Boer States, Land, and People. London, 1900. Keltie (J. Scott), The Partition of Africa. 2nd ed. London, 1895. Krüger (P.), Memoirs of Paul Krüger. Told by Himself. 2 vols. London, 1902. Leclera (J.), A travers l'Afrique Australe. 2nd ed. Bruxelles, 1900.-Les Boers et les Origines des Republiques Sud-Africaines. Bruxelles, 1901. Mackenzie (W. D.), South Africa: Its History, Heroes, and Wars. London, 1900. Markham (Violet R.), South Africa Past and Present. London, 1900.-The New Era in South Africa. London, 1904. Molengraaf (G. A. F.), Géologie de la Republique Sud-Africaine du Transvaal. Bulletin de la Soc. Geologique de France. 4e Série I., pp. 13-29. Paris, 1901. Also, Geological Survey of the South African Republic for the year 1898. Pretoria, 1902. Native Races of South Africa. Edited by Native Races Committee. London, 1901. Nevinson (H. W.), Ladysmith: The Diary of a Siege. London, 1900. Norris-Newman (C. L.), With the Boers in the Transvaal and Orange Free State in 1880-81. London, 1882. Poirier (J.), Le Transvaal, 1852-1899. Paris, 1900. Rae (C.), Malaboch or Notes from my Diary on the Boer Campaign of 1894. London, 1898. Ransome (S.), The Engineer in South Africa. London, 1903. Recius (E.), I'Afrique Australe. Paris, 1901. Reitz (F. W.), A Century of Wrong. London, 1899. Sawyer (A. R.), Mining, Geological, and General Guide to the Murchison Range. London. Scoble (J.) and Abercrombie (H. R.), The Rise and Fall of Krügerism. Loudon, 1900. Statham (F. R.) Blacks, Boers and British. 8. London.-Paul Krüger and his Times. London, 1898. Lieutenant-Governors of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, the Inspector-General of the South African Constabulary, and the Commissioner of Railways; four nominated for a year by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Transvaal and four by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Orange River Colony, these eight being persons holding office under the government of the respective colonies; six members of the Legislative Council of the Transvaal and four of that of the Orange River Colony to be elected from amongst themselves by the unofficial members of the respective Legislative Councils; two members nominated by a Secretary of State; one member nominated by the High Commissioner, being a person holding office in a branch of the public service with regard to which the Council may have power to advise the High Commissioner. The Council is nnder the Presidency of the High Commissioner. Broadly, the Council's functions are to advise the High Commissioner and Governor of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony as to the administration of the Central South African Railways, of the South African Constabulary, and of certain smaller services common to both Colonies, such a the Geodetic Survey, the Permit Office, &c. The Council's revenue is composed principally of the net profits of the Central South African Railways. Any other revenues which the Legislative Councils of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, from time to time devote to meeting expenditure common to these two Colonies, are also payable to the Council. The Guaranteed Loan of 35,000,0001. has been handed over to the Council to be spent on the purposes for which it was raised. The principal expenditure of the Council is incurred in paying interest and sinking fuud on the guaranteed Loan, and in the upkeep of the South African Constabulary. Any shortfall which may occur on the Council's budget must be made up from the revenues of the two Colonies in proportion to their respective customs revenue, or in such other proportion as the Secre tary of State may decide. A standing committee of the Council, called the Railway Committee, is responsible to the Council for the administration of the Central South African railways. Area and Population. The area of the Colony is 111,196 square miles, divided into 16 districts, and its white population, according to the census of 1904, is 299,327, of whom 179,723 are male and 119,604 female. The native population is 945,498 (506,186 males and 439,312 females). Of other coloured races there are 23,891 (16,826 males and 7,065 females. Total population, 1,268,716. The boundaries were defined in the convention of February 27, 1884, modified by subsequent conventions relating to the district of Vrijheid, and the territory of Swaziland. The capital is Pretoria, with a white population of 21,161. The largest town is Johannesburg, the mining centre of Witwatersrand goldfields, with a population of 158,580, consisting of 83,902 whites, 62,524 aboriginal natives, and 12,154 of other coloured races. In January, 1903, a tract of about 7,000 square miles consisting of the districts of Vryheid, Utrecht, and part of Wakkerstroom district was transferred to the Colony of Natal. Religion, Instruction, Justice. The census results (1904) as to religious denominations are not yet available. The following figures must be considered as only approximate:The United Dutch Reformed Church was the State church, claiming 30,000 (1895) of the population; other Dutch Churches, 32,760; English Church, 30,000; Wesleyans, 10,000; Catholic, 5,000; Presbyterians, 8,000; other Christian Churches, 5,000; Jews, 10,000. The Education Ordinance of February 25, 1903, recognises the responsibility of Government with respect to the whole system of education and its duty to provide for the extension and efficiency of schools and colleges. There is free elementary education wherever there is an average daily attendance of not less that 30 children. The scheme provides for undenominational religious instruction by teachers, but allows exemption of children from such instruction and provides opportunities for denominational instruction by ministers of religion in school hours. It provides also for instruction in Dutch for children whose parents desire it. Local school committees have been formed, where the average attendance exceeds 100, and, in the case of the smaller schools quarterly parents' meetings are held by the Inspector or his Deputy. The Transvaal is divided into 13 inspectorates, and there is an Inspector of native education. The year 1903 was remarkable for the extension of the farm school system. In December, 1902, there were 72 such schools with 2,241 children. In December, 1903, there were 269 with 9.016 children. Considerable progress has been made with the erection of farm school buildings, and in some instances, with the help of the Government, boarding hostels have been established or are contemplated for the accommodation of children whose homes are at a distance. No fees are charged in farm schools, and books and school material are provided free. Town schools are either free or fee-paying. In December, 1903, there were 104 free elementary schools with 15,956 children on the rolls. In December, 1903, there were 22 fee-paying schools with 1,956 children, 5 of these being high schools with 721 pupils. There were also evening classes for adults and older children. Other institutions under the control of or subsidized by the Education Department are the Government Orphanages at Irene, Pietersburg and Potchefstroom, where in December, 1903, 144 children were being maintained, the Normal College at Pretoria, where 56 students were being prepared for work as teachers in the schools of the Colony, and the Transvaal Technical Institute in Johannesburg to which the Department makes a grant of 8,000l. per annum. The latter Institution which was formally opened in March, 1904, with an enrolment of 40 students, provides complete courses in engineering and mining. A general course occupies 3 years, and at the end of their time students will be able to take the specialised one year's course in either (a) Mining, (b) Mechanical Engineering, (c) Electrical Engineering, or (d) Civil Engineering. Students are at present being prepared for the Mining Examination of the Cape University. Justice is administered in the Supreme Court of the Transvaal sitting at Pretoria and consisting of a Chief Justice and six other judges, with original and appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases. The Witwatersrand High Court, consisting of a single judge of the Supreme Court, sits permanently at Johannesburg and has civil and criminal jurisdiction in matters arising within the Witwatersrand District. Circuit courts may be held twice a year. There are resident magistrates, assistant resident magistrates at all the centres of population with limited civil and criminal jurisdiction, and resident Justices of the Peace for rural areas who try and punish certain petty offences. There are two police forces: the Town Police in Pretoria and in Johannesburg, embracing the Witwatersrand area, and the South African |