SOUTH AFRICA. 359 SOUTH AFRICA. goats and the best kind of bush foi- the domesti- cated ostrich. The largest tract of liarroo is a region about two-thirds as large as Scotland, in the interior of Cape Colony. All Soutli Afri- can plains and plateaus that are intermediate between the grass and bush-covered veldt and absolute desert are karroos. Both the karroo and the Kalahari desert need only the rain that sometimes falls on them to be quickly clothed with grass and shrubs. The plant-life common to deserts, and the vegetation of the veldt and the karroo, are the distinctive features of the flora; to which are to be added the tropical vegetation w^hich girdles Soutli Africa along its low, hot northern and eastern fringes, and the belt of European flora, including the northern cereals and the vine, across the south end of Africa. Fauna. The animal life is perhaps match- less, and is certainly luisurpassed. It includes the lion, elephant, hippopotamus, rhinoceros (black and white), buffalo, zebra, numerous va- rieties of antelope, the giralTe, wart hog, hyaina, and jackal. The slaughter of wild animals has been reckless and ruthless all over the settled parts of the country, but there are still wide areas that are known as 'sportsmen's paradises.' In Cape Colony nearly all the domesticated os- triches in the world (260,672 in 1899) are herded on large ostrich farms (dry veldt). Geology and Mineral Re.solkce.s. The dis- covery of diamonds and gold had a profound eft'ect upon the condition and prospects of South Africa, uplifting the country in a few years from obscurity into universal notice. Gold and diamonds are the foundation of the countrj-'s prosperity. Many millions of dollars have been disbursed in wages and local expenses at the mines. (For geology, gold, and diamonds, see Cape Colony, Transvaal Colony, Kimberley, etc.) The copper mines of Namaqualand are un- surpassed in richness of yield. The principal silver mine worked is 50 miles east of Johannes- burg, 6 miles from coal fields, but indications of silver have been found in many parts of Soutli Africa. Enormous deposits of coal and iron have been discovered in Cape Colony and Natal in close proximity. Coal is also mined in the Transvaal and the Orange River colonies, and extensive coal measures have also been found in Rhodesia, near the Zambezi. Platinum, plumbago, man- ganese, and the finest of marble, building stone, and lime are also among the mineral resources. Agriculti-re. Farmers have already followed the miners far toward the Zambezi. Scotchmen and Englishmen in Mashonaland and Matabele- land are producing the food supplies required by the settlements and mining camps. The soil is extraordinarily productive wherever rainfall is sufficient; but the chief interest is stock- raising, the country, as a whole, being better suited for pastoral pursuits than for agricul- tural operations. Wool is the staple source of wealth, the grasses of the veldt and the pas- ture plants of the karroos being well suited for growing the finest wools. IMany millions of sheep are pastured in the Cape. Natal, Orange River Colony, the Transvaal Colony, Bechuana- land, etc. Angora goats (mohair) and cattle also abound. The 'Cape horse' is not handsome, but is hardy and keeps in good condition on the veldt. Across the south end of the country is a strip of fine farming land, where wheat, maize (mealies), and all the crops of the temperate zone are very successful. The best wheat is grown along the southern border of Orange River Colony. In Cape Colony vine growing, ostrich farning. and cattle raising are important indus- tries. It is to the advantage of South Africa that its great variety of climate enaliles it to grow nearly every cultivated crop. Sugar-cane and tea-planting in Natal have passed beyond the experimental stage. Sugar is now exported, and the tea is of excellent flavor. Coft'ee and arrowroot also thrive on the moist coastlands. Mani'1actures. Little attention has been given to the manufacturing industries, chiefly on account of the sparsity of the white population. A large quantity of Cape wine and brandy is produced, but they are of inferior quality and are consumed chiefly by the black natives. The chief centres of the manufacturing industries are in Cape Colony, where, in 1891, there Were '2230 industrial establishments employing .32,735 persons, flour mills, tobacco factories, tanneries, diamond-washing and gold and cop]ier reduction works being most prominent ; and in the Trans- vaal Colony, where before the war there were 69 establishments, including saw-mills, brick and lime works, and machine shops. Commerce. Prominent among the 'makers' of the country are still the traders who load their heavy wagons carrying three to four tons with all kinds of goods desired by the black popula- tion, and trek from tribe to tribe, returning to town or port after mjftiy months to dispose of the ivory, horns, skins, and feathers received in exchange for their wares. The trekking trade has been the means of diverting most of commerce, even of the Zambezi region, to the southern ports. The circulation of goods is to and from the sea- coast, there being little trade between town and town, as all are supplied from the seaport centres. Except during the recent war the 'Cape trade' has been steadily growing. The annual import and export traflic of the region south of the Zambezi is now over $200,000,000 a year. Great Britain controlling nearly all the exports, those which reach other countries be- ing mainly through British channels. Gold, dia- monds, and wool are the great export staples, with hides, mohair, wine, and ostrich feathers next in importance. Many of the imports (gen- eral manufactures, machinery, etc.) come from countries other than Great Britain. In 1902 the imports from the United States amounted to over $26,000,000, while the exports to it were less than $1,000,000. Transportation and Communication. In the more settled districts there are fairly good roads with substantial liridges across the rivers. Mail carts, coaches, and in some cases bullock wagons, ply between the railroad stations and all the larger towns that are not on the rail lines. There is now rail connection between all the important ports of the south and east coasts and the larger interior towns and mining dis- tricts. One may travel by rail from Cape To^vii to Salisbury, in IMashonaland. and thence to the port of Beira. It is confidently expected that before many years the railway system of South Africa will be connected with that of Egypt. Regular commimieation is maintained with Europe, America, and Australia. Population and History. The population is only about 6,000,000, of whom only about 750,-
