An independent republic of South Africa. Founded by Boers from Cape Colony,
in 1836; constitution proclaimed 1854. Area, 70,000 square miles.
Population, 133,518: colored or native, 72,496; whites, 61,022. Annual
amount devoted to education, $1,000,000. Capital, Bloemfontein; pop.,
2,567.
Law-making power vested in a popular Assembly of 55 members; executive, in
President, elected for 5 years. Climate salubrious. Agricultural and
pastoral pursuits the chief industries. In 1881 there were 6,000 farms;
total number of acres, 23,592,400; cultivated, 114,916; number of horses,
131,594; 5,056,301 merino sheep, 673,924 goats; ostriches, 2,253. There are
many rich coal mines. Diamonds and other precious stones are found. Miles
of telegraph in operation, 559
NATAL. Na-tal'.
Previous to 1856, Natal formed part of Cape Colony; in that year it was
erected into a separate colony under Great Britain. The government is
administered by a Governor, an Executive Council, and a Legislative
Council. Estimated area, 21,150 square miles. Pop., 1881, 416,210; white,
28,463; native, 329,253; coolies, 20,196. Principal town, Durban; pop.,
16,630. Capital, Pietermaritzburg; pop., 14,231.
Value of imports, 1883, $8,755,535; exports, $4,158,735. Principal exports:
hides, $255,040; ostrich feathers, $72,530; unrefined sugar, $610,420;
wool, $2,595,805. Principal imports are manufactured goods and flour. In
1883, 328 vessels, of 232,097 tons, entered, and 326, of 231,892 tons,
cleared, the ports. There are 105 miles of railway built, and 120 under
construction. {55}
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TRANSVAAL. Trans-val'.
A South African republic founded by Boers who left Cape Colony in 1835 for
Natal, quitted the latter country on its annexation to Great Britain, and
settled in the territory north of the Vaal river. Recognized as an
independent state in 1852. Executive authority is in the hands of a
President, assisted by a Council of 4 members; legislative vested in a
Volksraad of 44 members. Area of republic, 114,360 square miles. Population
estimated, 1884, at 50,000 whites, of whom 40,000 are Dutch, and about
700,000 natives. Chief city, Pretoria; population, 4,440.
The country is favorable for agriculture and stock raising. Chief crop,
wheat; sugar, coffee and cotton are grown. Cattle, sheep and ostriches are
reared. There is a great deal of mineral wealth, which has been but little
developed. The yearly exports are valued at $3,000,000, and are principally
grain, cattle, hides, wool, ostrich feathers, butter, ivory, gold and other
minerals.
LIBERIA. Li-bee're-a.
A republic of South Africa, founded in 1820 as a colony by the American
Colonization Society in behalf of liberated slaves from the United States.
Liberia was declared an independent state in 1847. The government is
modeled after that of the United States. The republic has 600 miles of
coast line, and extends inland about 100 miles; area, 14,300 square miles.
The population is wholly African, and numbers 18,000 Americo-Liberians and
1,050,000 aborigines. Capital, Monrovia; population, 3,000. The Liberians
have established churches and schools, and possess a number of printing
presses. The climate, which is still fatal to Europeans, has been much
improved by systematic drainage.
The country is well watered, and the natural resources are very great.
Cotton and coffee are both indigenous, the former yielding two crops per
year. The oil palm is abundant, palm oil, ivory, India rubber and nuts
being the chief exports.