nence to the claims of the Colony to the first place in any future union of the South African States.

By the completed census, the population of the Colony was found to be 1,527,224; 376,987 being Europeans, 13,907 Malay, 50,388 Hottentots, 229,680 Fingoes, 608,456 Kaffirs, and all other coloured races 247,806.

Railway enterprises were pushed forward. Towards the close of the year agreements were made between the Cape Government and the Netherlands Company under guarantee of the Transvaal Government for the speedy completion of the Pretoria and Vaal river railway to meet the Cape extension. The Cape Government advanced 400,000l. for the purpose, and secured running powers over the line. The junction of the Eastern and Western railways at Steynsburg was officially opened in November. This completed the Colonial railway system, and gave easy access to the rich coal deposits of the Stormberge district.

Uncertainty with regard to the Boer trek into Mashonaland caused the Imperial Government in the spring to send troops, under command of Col. Carey, into Bechuanaland, to relieve the police in that country for service in the Protectorate. The High Commissioner proclaimed in April the annexation to Bechuanaland of certain strips of territory which had formed the eastern frontier of the German protectorate in Namaqualand.

Preparations were being made for an International Exhibition to be opened at Kimberley in September 1892, at which special prominence was to be given to economical mining, electric lighting, and agricultural machinery. All European exhibits were to be carried from the coast to Kimberley, and taken back to Port Elizabeth or Cape Town free of charge.

Gazaland.-Gungunhana, the king of Gazaland, sent two envoys to England in April to ask the protection of the "Great White Queen," and to protest against the claims of the Portuguese to supremacy in his dominions. He had allowed the Portuguese to fly a small flag over his kraal as a token of friendship and not of subjection. He asked that the traffic in strong drink introduced by the Portuguese might be stopped, as it was ruining his people. The English Government declined to assume the protectorate, as the sphere of influence assigned to Portugal by recent treaty extended over territories where Gungunhana had levied tribute and claimed authority.

Ngamiland. This territory was during the year brought within the sphere of British protection, by arrangement with Germany. After the death of King Moremi, who ruled with almost absolute sway, the Government was carried on by Dithapo, the chief head man, as a sort of Regent under the control of other head men. The people were extremely dissatisfied with the Regent Sechome, who ruled in the name of a youth of sixteen, and a nephew of King Khama, who had inherited the throne.

Natal. At the opening of the Natal railway extension at

Laing's Nek, on the Transvaal border, in April, President Krüger, General Joubert, and other Transvaal officials were received with great ceremony and honour. After attending the festivities there, they made a tour through the colony. At Pietermaritzburg and Durban they were entertained at banquets, and at all the towns which they visited, they met with a most cordial reception from the people. On returning to Pretoria, the Transvaal President warmly recognised the obligation imposed on him by the splendid reception everywhere in Natal, and declared his purpose to work for the progress and prosperity of the whole of South Africa.

Considerable opposition to the measure conferring responsible government on Natal was felt in the Colony from fear that it encouraged a Customs Union with the Transvaal Republic instead of that long contemplated with the Cape Colony, and especially when the new railway was completed to the Transvaal frontier, giving such inducements for an arrangement with the South African Republic. With regard to the responsible Government Bill, the Home Government requested the Legislative Council of the Colony to make certain amendments, among others it advised the construction of the new Legislature with two Chambers instead of one. It was understood also that no laws were to be passed enacting special provisions for those not of the English race without the sanction of the Imperial Government. At the end of the year the scheme of responsible government had not been perfected, and the grant had not been allowed.

Zululand.-All was quiet in Zululand during the year, and the people were peaceable and contented under Imperial rule. The exiled chiefs, who might have created disturbance if they had been allowed their liberty, still remained in banishment at St. Helena, notwithstanding the petitions that were offered for their pardon and release.

Transvaal, or South African Republic.-An armed invasion or trek into Mashonaland was threatened in April, and rumours circulated that thousands were to take part in it. The purpose of the migration was said to be the establishment in that territory of an independent Republic on June 1. Sir Henry Loch at once informed the Transvaal President that this procedure I would be in violation of Act X. of the Swaziland Convention agreed to by the Transvaal Republic, and would be regarded by her Majesty's Government as an act of hostility to the Queen. Whereupon President Krüger issued a proclamation prohibiting any subjects of the South African Republic from taking part in the projected trek. The Volksraad confirmed the proclamation, and added the further provision that any "trekker" would be liable to a fine of 500l. sterling, or one year's imprisonment with hard labour. A religious motive was said to impel the movement, which was effectually restrained by the prompt action of President Krüger.

In November, some 10,000 Boers assembled at Paardekraal to celebrate the anniversary of the independence of the Transvaal Republic. Many Englishmen were present, and, as no references were made by orators to past conflicts of the tworaces, perfect harmony prevailed.

Mashonaland, &c.—The search for mineral wealth continued in Mashonaland. In December there had been 2,500 prospecting licences issued, and 8,000 gold reef claims, 120 silver claims, and 80 tin claims had been registered. Some, however, gave bad reports of the land, and there was much complaint of want of native labour on the gold fields. Early in the year the exceptionally heavy rainfall prevented progress. Operations were principally carried on in the Umfuli river region, where rich deposits were found. Valuable discoveries were also made on the Sobakwe river, to the southward of the Umfuli, and on the Mazoe river. The Kaiser Wilhelm field, described by the German traveller Karl Manch in 1871, was rediscovered in August. Mr. Rhodes arrived at Fort Salisbury October 16, by the Pungwé route, and completed arrangements for telegraph connected from there with the outside world, and a treaty between Portugal and Great Britain, made during the summer, secured railway communication sooner or later directly with the coast. The alluvial gold deposits appeared to have been worked out by some ancient people, but reef working by the use of crushing batteries promised better results in the future.

As to the agricultural advantages of the country, a Commission, appointed by the Africander Bund, had expressed a high opinion. Between Fort Charter and Fort Salisbury, and between Salisbury and Manica, the land was found well suited for tillage or grazing. A difficulty in the way of settlement of the agricultural districts had arisen from the want of valid titles to the land, as no one had the absolute power to give a title deed.

The claims of Colonel d'Andrade to the effective occupation of Mashonaland, when, with Gouveia and a body guard, a tour was made through a portion of the country, and Portuguese flags were distributed to the native chiefs, raised a dispute with the British South African Company, which threatened serious results, but the claims were shadowy, and were not held valid. Several outrages were committed by Portuguese officials during the spring, yet her Majesty's Government made continued effort to pacify Portuguese sensitiveness, and to yield even more than could fairly be claimed. In March the steamer "Countess of Carnarvon" was seized on the Limpopo river on a charge of smuggling, and taken with her cargo to Delagoa Bay as a prize. The Portuguese defended the capture, asserting that the steamer had on board arms and ammunition belonging to the British South African Company, which were being smuggled into the interior to arm native tribes, and they claimed the right to stop the vessel under the Mozambique Customs regulations. Officials

of the chartered company on board, however, positively denied that the vessel carried any contraband goods. Later, at Beira, some Portuguese war ships stopped the progress up the Pungwé of Sir John Willoughby's gunboats, "Agnes and "Shark." The Portuguese claimed that this was not a breach of the modus vivendi of November 20, 1890, alleging that because the British South African Company's officials still remained at Massi Kesse, under pretext of guarding the property of the Mozambique Company, a state of siege was declared. The police of the chartered company had a collision in May with a Portuguese force near Umtasa's kraal in Manicaland, in which the Portuguese were defeated, with the loss of several men.

Finally, Lord Salisbury sent an ultimatum to Portugal, and a new treaty was concluded, delimiting the spheres of influence of either nation. It provided that the navigation of the Zambesi and Shiré rivers should be entirely free to the ships of all nations, the Portuguese Government engaging to permit and facilitate transit over the waterways of the Zambesi, Shiré, Pungwé, Busi, Limpopo, Sabi, and their tributaries, and also over the land routes. Arrangements were made for the construction of a railway along the Pungwé or Busi valley as well as for a telegraph line.

The affairs of the British South African Company were in a satisfactory condition. Although expenditure had been heavy, a sufficient balance remained to continue the development of the vast territory of the company for another two years without fresh capital.

EAST AFRICA.

Abyssinia.-Italy at first obtained a position on the East Coast of Africa through British favour. It was originally intended that the boundary between the British and Italian spheres should proceed along the river Juba as far as 8° of N. latitude, and thence N.W. to 35° E. longitude. Beyond that the Italian sphere was to be within the boundaries of Abyssinia. By the protocol of March 24, 1891, the line of demarcation follows the Juba to latitude 6° N., thence following the 6th parallel up to the meridian 35° E., giving thus to Italy Kaffa and most of the Galla country. King Menelek seemed dissatisfied with having made any agreement with the Italians, and wrote a complaining letter to Queen Victoria. Her Majesty availed herself of the intermediary of Italy, to show that notwithstanding the arguments of the Negus, she respected the Italian protectorate established by the treaty of Uccialli.

Russian agents were striving to obtain a foothold in Abyssinia through the influence of the Aboona or High Priest of the Abyssinian Church, representing to him that the Russian Church was in perfect agreement with his own. The change of attitude of King Menelek towards the Italians was attributed to French and Russian intrigues.

Comoro Islands.-The French resident in Anjoan was compelled to ask protection of the Governor of the island of Mayotta because of insubordination of the natives. In Grand Comoro, the most important island of the group, the people deposed their Sultan, who was under French protection, and at Mohilla island a war vessel was found necessary to keep in order those who were dissatisfied with the French protectorate.

Madagascar.-The Governor of Belmona, who had massacred 200 persons for complaining to the Government of his misrule, was executed in February.

Serious troubles were impending in Madagascar in September. The French claimed the right of giving their exequaturs to the consuls in the island. The native Government, however, insisted that the right had been reserved to them by the last treaty with France. Neither party was disposed to yield, and war seemed inevitable. The Prime Minister, the husband of the Queen of the island, had lately lost his brother and one of his sons by poison, as was supposed, and there seemed to be a plot to kill the ruling family.

Mozambique. The Mozambique Company was reorganised in November, and received the sanction of the Portuguese Government to their new articles of association. 150,000l. of British capital was turned over to the company with a guarantee of a much greater investment as the money should be required. Colonel Machado, late Governor-General of Mozambique, was appointed the company's first Governor in Africa.

German East Africa.-Baron von Soden was appointed in April to be Governor of German East Africa, and Major von Wissmann and Dr. Peters to be "Commissaries at the disposal of the Governor." Emin Pasha was also offered a sub-Governorship by Baron von Soden. The programme of the new administration included the reduction of the Colonial forces, increase of import duties, taxation of the natives, the protection of the established companies and mission stations, and increased facilities of communication by the construction of roads. In February, Lieut. Siegl, with a small force, occupied Tabora, having concluded treaties with most of the petty Sultans of Unyamwesi, by which they yielded their sovereignties to Germany. A serious engagement took place (Aug. 17) between the German troops and the Wahehe tribe at Uhela, south-west of Mpwapwa. The Germans were commanded by Lieut. Zelewski, who was slain with several other officers of the expedition. The Wahehes originally emigrated from the south, and resemble the warlike Zulus, to whom they are said to be related. This was the most severe disaster that the Germans had met with in East Africa, while the force was the strongest that had been sent to the interior, and included one-fifth of the German colonial troops in the country. The official report (Aug. 30) of Lieut. Tettenborn, who led the retreat, stated that the losses of the column were 250