AFRICA.

Bechuanaland. (Native Disturbances Correspondence. Presented March, 1898.) -In consequence of the Bechuana Rebellion a Bill was introduced into the Cape House of Assembly for the proclamation of certain native reserves as Crown Lands. The Aborigines Protection Society protested against the acquisition of these lands and the indenturing of surrendered rebels for five years at 10s, a month for men and 7s. 6d. for youths, with food and housing, as a violation of the Emancipation Act, and practically a revival of slavery. Mr. Chamberlain asked the Governor to report on the whole question, but pointed out to the society that the question of the legality of the action of the Cape Government was one that must be decided in the Courts of Law. In his Report (January 5th, 1898), Sir Alfred Milner showed that of the 2,064 rebels who surrendered, 1,871 were finally indentured at Cape Town. "The gravamen of the charge against the Government is that these contracts were not entered into voluntarily, but under compulsion. The prisoners were given the option to engage as servants for five years, or to stand their trial for treason, and they chose the former alternative. It is contended that this was virtually compulsion, and I do not understand Ministers to deny that, as a matterof-fact, the threat of prosecution for treason did constitute very effective pressure upon the rebels to enter into contracts. The case for the Government is that (1) as regards the men, they were rebels and might have been punished as rebels, and that it was a merciful thing to give them the option of going into service instead of going to prison; (2) as regards the women and children, who were clearly not punishable as rebels, these really did elect for service, or rather the women did, for the children, of course, simply followed their mothers (see on this point Mr. Stanford's account on p. 2+ of the Blue Book, of what passed between him and the women at Kuruman). It can, I think, hardly be doubted that the women and children are better off than they would have been if left to fend for themselves, with their husbands and fathers in prison. Great care has been taken, in arranging the contracts, that families should be kept

together." Reports of Native Commissioners were also forwarded, describing the treatment and disposition of the prisoners. Consequently the Colonial Office wrote (January 24th) that Mr. Chamberlain did not find any fresh reason which would justify Her Majesty's Government in interfering in a matter in respect of which the Cape Government were answerable to the Parliament of the Cape Colony. "The attitude of the Aborigines Protection Society was based on statements, the accuracy of which is not established."

British Central Africa Protectorate (Report for year 1897-8. Africa, No. IX.).Acting Commissioner Manning's Report for year ending March 31, 1898, shows that the number of Europeans in the Protectorate is about 300. European planters are pushing further inland, and have opened estates on the west of Lake Nyassa. Indian traders continue to settle in small numbers, and have penetrated to Zomba and to Liwonde, on the upper Shiré. On the Portuguese border the native population was always unsettled, leading to raids into British territory by natives for whom the Portuguese are responsible. But on the whole the natives had settled down to peaceable occupations, and the number of skilled labourers was increasing. Planting operations in coffee were considerably extended. Endeavours had been made to push the rubber industry, and to acclimatize the rubber-bearing trees of the West Coast. The export of rubber increased fourfold in the year under review. Tobacco and tea cultivation had been attempted. RAILWAYS: The survey of a line from Chiromo to the navigable waters of the Upper Shiré had been completed. The survey line runs through Blantyre to a spot below the Mpimbi on the navigable Shiré, and a good and fairly easy gradient had been obtained. Particulars are given of the successful operations in August, 1897, against the Angura of Lake Chilwa. The Protectorate Forces consist of six companies of natives (107 rank and file in each), with a Sikh colour-sergeant and three Sikh drillinstructors, and commanded by a British officer selected from the British service. Two companies are stationed at Zomba, and the others at Mlanje, Mangoche, Fort

Maguire (Lake Nyassa), and Murimba districts respectively. The men are armed with the Snider rifle, and the force has also a battery of four 7-pounder mountain guns, two 9-pounder field guns, and one Maxim, worked by native gunners, under Sikh instructors. There is also a Sikh contingent of 175 men, lent by the Indian Government for three years, with three European officers. The Naval service consists of two gunboats, "Dove" and "Guendolin," and two Lake steamers. HEALTH: Dr. Kerr Cross's report says that the health of the Protectorate cannot be characterized as good. Thirtytwo Europeans died-a death-rate of 10 per "Apart from malarial fever Central Africa would be a desirable country for Europeans. With malarial fever it can only be designated as unhealthy.' "The

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one outstanding disease is black-water fever. It would seem that this disease was specially prevalent in the higher lands." It has been seen on the Shiré river and the lake, but seems to be most frequently observed in the plateau and hill countries. Discussing the use of quinine, Dr. Kerr Cross says that " quinine is our sheetanchor in ordinary fever, but where the kidney is burdened or has partially lost its functions, quinine, I think, is contraindicated, and, if pushed, may lead to coma and death." The Sikhs suffered greatly from fever when exposed during campaign work. The health of native soldiers was good. The prevailing diseases of the natives are dysentery, chicken-pox, syphilis, and a host of skin diseases. The utter neglect of sanitary laws by natives is always a source of danger to a European settlement. The total trade of the Protectorate for the year was £116,264 (imports, £88,827; exports, £27,436), a marked increase on previous returns.

British South Africa Co.'s Territories. Changes in Administration. Presented February, 1898.-On January 13th Mr. Chamberlain wrote to High Commissioner Sir Alfred Milner, sending proposals on the question of the future exercise of administrative powers by the British South Africa Company. He had come to the conclusion that, to preserve consistency of administration throughout the British sphere in South Africa, it was necessary that the control of the Crown over the local administration of Rhodesia must, for the present, continue to be exercised through the High Commissioner. The proposed measures aimed not so much at setting up new machinery for the control of the Company's administration by the Crown as at rendering that which was already provided for its purpose more effective in its action. The Proposals provided that if the Company have any difference with a native chief or tribe the Secretary of State may require the matter to be submitted to him, and the Company must act in accordance with his directions. The Company to be required to furnish annually accounts of its administrative expenditure

and of its public revenues as distinguished from its commercial profits, together with estimates of like expenditure and revenue for the ensuing year and any other reports the Secretary of State may desire. The following is a summary of the proposals:(A.) Local Administration. Proposals under this head refer to Southern Rhodesia only. Northern Rhodesia reserved for future consideration. 1. Modification of Administrative Council, as suggested by British South Africa Company, by addition of four elected members of Council, and of sufficient number of members of Council

nominated by Company to ensure for Company majority as long as they are responsible for expenditure. 2. Legislation. Enactment of Ordinances by Board of Directors to be discontinued. All legislation in future, including imposition of taxes, to be effected generally by Ordinances of Administrator in Legislative Council, in exceptional circumstances by Proclamation of High Commissioner. As at present, Proclamation to have superior force and High Commissioner's previous consent to be necessary for its amendment or repeal by an Ordinance. Ordinances to be subject to confirmation by High Commissioner and to disallowance by Secretary of State within a year. 3. Control of High Commissioner to be based upon full information obtained locally through an Imperial officer styled Resident Commissioner. This officer to be appointed and to be paid by Crown: not to interfere with work of administration except as regards employment of armed forces: not to have power of overruling Administrator or Council or to deal directly with subordinate officers of British South Africa Company, but to have seat on Legislative Council with right to speak but not to vote, and full power to call for information or reports on any subject through Administrator. 4. Commandant of forces to be appointed and to be paid by Crown, but no longer to be Deputy Commissioner. regards employment of forces for purposes of ordinary police, inclusive of suppression of internal disturbances, he would be authorized to act on his own discretion, but would be ordinarily guided by wishes and requirements of Administrator and his subordinate officers. Should he think it undesirable to comply with them in any case, he would refer for instructions to Resident Commissioner, and he would in no case take action of nature of military operations without authority from Resident Commissioner. 5. If Company so desire, separate Administrators to be appointed to Matabeleland and Mashonaland. In that case, each Administrator to have separate Executive Council, but there would be only one Legislative Council in which both Administrators would sit, and one of them would preside. 6. Except as modified by these proposals or by lapse of time, provisions of Matabeleland Order in Council to be maintained, but appointment and removal of native Commissioners to be on same

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footing as of Magistrates. (B.) Board of Directors.-1. Board of Directors to be required to communicate to the Secretary of State within a certain time all Minutes, Orders, or Resolutions dealing with administration. Secretary of State to have power of veto or suspension of any which are objectionable. 2. Secretary of State to have access through persons named by him to all records of Company and to be furnished with copies of correspondence between them and officers in South Africa and with such other documents, reports, and accounts as he may require, and to have power of removing any Director of or official of the Company in this country who fails to comply. Powers of inspecting records and correspondence would as at present proposed be exercised through Colonial Office. 3. The Life Directorships to be abolished: whole Board of Directors to be elected by shareholders, any official or Director removed by Secretary of State not being eligible without his consent. End of Summary.-The Board of the South Africa Company expressed general concurrence with the principles of these proposals, and noticed with satisfaction that the Legislative Council was to be strengthened by the introduction of a representative element. The Secretary added:-"My Directors concur with the proposal that all legislation shall in future be passed locally, but in view of the financial responsibility of the Board to Shareholders, and of the increased powers proposed to be entrusted to the local Administration, they ubmit that the power at present vested in the Company of directing and controlling all Fiscal Legislation should remain intact, and that authority to disallow all legislation passed by the Legislative Council, subject, if so desired, to the approval of the Secretary of State, should be retained by the Company. With reference to Clause 24, my Directors desire power to appoint two separate Administrators, one for Matabeleland and the other for Mashonaland, but would submit for the consideration of the Secretary of State, that the manifest advantage of promoting uniformity of administration throughout Southern Rhodesia, and the difficulty of constituting two equally efficient Executive Councils occasioned by the various Heads of Departments being stationed permanently at one centre, alike point to the advisability of establishing one Executive Council only." Mr. Chamberlain directed (February 15th) that the following reply should be sent to the Company: "Mr. Chamberlain thinks it not unreasonable that the Directors should continue to have a voice in controlling the legislation for the Company's territories, on the ground that much of it may affect the financial responsibilities of the Board. He is therefore ready to modify the proposal in paragraph 21 of the Memorandum of proposals by giving authority to the Board of Directors to disallow Ordinances passed by the Legislative Council, subject to the power of the

Secretary of State to overrule their veto. Probably the wishes of the Board in the matter will be sufficiently met by providing that the Secretary of State may within a year disallow an Ordinance, either of his own motion or at the request of the Board of Directors. Mr. Chamberlain agrees with the Board of Directors, that in present circumstances it will not be advisable to have more than one Executive Council for Matabeleland and Mashonaland." An Order in Council was subsequently issued giving effect to the projected new Constitution for Southern Rhodesia.

Congo State. Report for 1897, from the Legation at Brussels.-Total trade for 1897 was £1,635,371, nearly £400,000 more than in 1896, or more than double that of 1893. This increase is almost entirely_to_the benefit of Belgium. Exports to England in 1888 were £37,481, in 1897 they were not one-third of that sum. The imports from England to that Colony were £103,729, about the same as in 1893. A large portion of the increase in the imports from Belgium during the past year must be attributed to the great quantity of materials required for the construction of the railway from Matadi to Stanley Pool, as the value of the locomotives, trucks, and rails imported in the course of last year alone amounted to £120,000. The steamers which keep up the mail service between Antwerp and the Congo now run to a considerable extent under the Belgian flag, whereas formerly they flew English or German colours. This accounts for the increase in the number of Belgian and the decrease in the number of English steamers visiting the Congo ports during the last three years. Baron van

Eetvelde in his Report draws attention to' the slight decrease which has taken place during the year in the comsumption of spirituous liquors, as in 1897 only 1,138,125 litres were imported, compared with 1,465,590 litres in 1895, these imports being for the most part derived from Germany and Holland. The total State receipts in 1897, apart from the Royal and Government subsidies, amounted to £367,334.

Treaty Engagements in respect to the Congo. The following extracts from the General Act of the Conference of Berlin, signed by fourteen European Powers and by the United States, show the conditions relative to freedom of trade in the Congo State and the neutralities of the territories: CHAPTER I.-Declaration relative to Freedom of Trade in the Basin of the Congo, its Mouths and circumjacent Regions, with other Provisions connected therewith. Article I.-The trade of all nations shall enjoy complete freedom:-1. In all the regions forming the Basin of the Congo and its outlets. This basin is bounded by the watersheds (or mountain ridges) of the adjacent basins-namely, in particular, those of the Niari, the Ogowé, the Schari, and the Nile, on the north; by the eastern