Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/528

 184

THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

In August, 1814, this colony and the Netherlands colonies in South America were formally ceded to Great Britain, the sum of 6,000,000Z. being paid by the British to the Netherlands Govern- ment. Since that time the boundary has been gradually enlarged by the annexation of adjoining districts.

At the census of 1875 the colony, as then constituted, had an area of 191,416 square miles and a population of 720,984 (236,783 Europeans). According to the report of the census of April 5, 1891, the population on the same area is 956,485 (336,938 Europeans), showing an increase of 32*66 per cent, during the 16 years, or an annual increase of 2*04 per cent, of the whole population, and an increase in the European popula- tion of 42*30 per cent, in the 16 years, or an annual increase of 2*64 per cent.

The following table gives the area and population of the colony and de])endencies according to the census of 1891 : —

—

Area, Square Miles

Population in 1891

i Per 1 Squa e i Mile

Eurojiean or White

Coloured

Total

Colony proper Griqualand West ' East Griqualand. Tembuland Transkei. Wallish Bay

Total

191,416 15,197

7,594

4,122

2,552

430

336,938

29,670

4,150

5,179

1,019

31

619,547 53,705 148,468 175,236 152,544 737

1,150,237

956,485 83,375 152,618 180,415 153,563 768

5-00

5-49

20-10

43-77

60-16

1-79

6-90

221,311

376,987

1,527,224

1 Griqualand West is now incorporated in the Cave and constitutes 4 of the 77 divisions.

Pondoland, annexed to Cape Colon)' September 25, 1894, had an estimated area of 4,040 square miles, and population of 166,080. In November, 1895, the Crown Colony of British Bechuanaland was incorporated with Cape Colony. The area annexed is 51,424 square miles, and the population (1891) was 72,736, of whom 5,211 were whites. The country is well adapted for cattle and for maize ; gold, lead, silver, and iron have been found.

Of the white population of Cape Colony, 27,667 were born in England, 6,646 in Scotland, and 4,184 in Ireland, while 6,540 were German. Of the coloured population, 13,907 arc Malays, and 247,806 a mixture of various races ; the rest are Hottentots, Fingoes, Kafirs, and Becliuanas. Of the white 195,956 are males, and 181,031 females ; and of the total population 767,327 are males and 759,897 females.

The Transkeian territories are grouped under two chief magistrates, and are subject to the 'Native Territories Penal Code.'

The chief towns with their population in 1891 were : — The capital, Cai>e Town, 51,251 (with suburbs, 83,718); Kimberley, 28,718; Port Elizal)eth, 23,266; Graham's Town, 10,498; Beaconsfield, 10,478; Paarl, 7,668; King William's Town, 7,226 ; East London, 6,924 ; Graaf-Reinot, 5,946 ; Worcester, 5,404 ; Uitenhage, 5,331 ; Cradock, 4,389.