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 NYASALA1CD PROTECTORATE 195

NYASALAND PROTECTORATE (BRITISH).

The Nyasaland (until 1907 British Central Africa) Protectorate, con- stituted on May 14, 1891, lies along the southern and western shores of Lake Nyasa, and extends towards the Zambezi. It is administered under the Colonial Office by the Governor and Commander-in Chief, assisted by aa Executive an'l a Legislative Council, both consisting of nominated members, and the Governor having the right of veto (Order in Council of September 4, 1907). The Laws consist of local Ordinances duly enacted, with such British Acts as are of general application.

Area, 39,573 square miles, divided into fifteen districts, each ad- ministered by a Resident and his assistants. Population, 1920, 1.015 Euro- peans (mostly in the Shire Highlands), 515 Asiatics, and 1,202,208 natives. The chief settlement is Blantyre, in the Shire Highlands: others are Zomba (the seat of Government), Port Herald, Mlanje, Limbe ; on Lake Nyasa are Fort Johnston, Kota-Kota, Bandawe, Chintechi, Nkata, Likoma, and Karonga. Good roads are being made in all directions, and life and property are safe. There are no Government schools, native educa- tion being undertaken by various missionary societies. Eleven Christian missions are at work ; in 1918-19 there were 1,991 schools, with about 110 European teachers, 125,159 pupils and 77,952 in average attendance. Ten of the missions divide 1,000Z. Government aid for their schools.

Justice is administered in the High Court, which has jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, and also as a Court of Admiralty. Subordinate courts are held by magistrates and assistant magistrates in the various districts. Appeals from decisions of the High Court are heard in H B. M's. Court of Appeal for Eastern Africa, sitting at Mombassa. In 1918-19, 3,041 offences were reported, 18 being cases of serious crime.

Within the Shire province coffee is cultivated ; in 1916-17, 131,390 lbs.; in 1917-18, 2,774 lbs.; in 1918-19, 188,865 lbs.; in 1919-20, 112,055 lbs. were exported. Tobacco exported, after local deir.ands were supplied, in 1916-17, 4,304,124 lbs.; in 1917-18, 2,025,372 lbs.: in 1918-19, 5,805,396 lbs. ; and in 1919-20, 4,815,045 lbs. The area under tobacco in 1919 was 6,027 acres. Cotton cultivation is very promising. Crop in 1915-16, 3,065,248 lbs.; in 1916-17, 3,462,500 lbs. ; in 1917-18, 1,779,200 lbs.; in 1918-19, 2,670,834 lbs.; and in 1919-20, 930,048 lbs. Tea-growing is tried on estates aggregating about 4,433 acres ; in 1915-16, 88,3411bs. ; in 1916-17, 420,685 lbs. ; in 1917-18, 155,338 lbs.; in 1918-19, 700,455 lbs.; and in 1919-20, 801,890 lbs. were exported. 1 Cattle (1919), 84,338 ; sheep, 40,369 ; goats, 148,681 ; pigs, 21,403 ; horses, mules, and asses, 253, mostly belonging to the natives.

The trade ports are Port Herald (Lower Shire), Kota-Kota, Karonga, and Fort Johnston (Lake Nyasa).

1913-14 (pra-war)

1919-20

£ ' £ £ £ £

Imports 3. 189,201 216,(500 356,116 323,265 648,979

Exports 3. 200,734 19S.606 ; 289,268 144,747 504,739

Revenue. 124,849, 137,911 148,284 144,239 187,645

Expenditure 133,106 j 125,606. 12S,27i 143,639 150,198

£ 599,890

429,086 1S6.266 217,696

1 The decrease in the cultivation and export of cotton, tobacco, coffee, and tea in

, 1917-18 was due to (o) scarcity of native labour owing to the bulk of the adult male

i population having been employed throughout the year as military carriers: (6) lack of

^hipping space on ocean steamer* ; (e) prohibition of • importation of tea into the

I Kingdom. 2 For years ending March 31 of tlmse stated


 * Excluding specie and goods in transit.

O 2