Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/293

 AGRICULTURE — HARBOURS COMMUNICATIONS — BOOKS 241

the yield was 462,181 carats, valued at 2,081,863/. The total output since 1908, when the mines were first discovered, has been 6,669,246 carats, valued at 13,349,690/. The copper mines at Tsnmeb were handicapped at the beginning of the year by shipping difficulties. Their output in 1919 was 26,675 tons. Alluvial tin is being worked in the Karibib and Omaruru districts, and valuable deposits of coloured marble at Karibib. Prospecting has been allowed since March 1, 1920, and is being energetically con- ducted in many patts of the country. Coal is greatly required, but only poor seams have so far been located.

Agriculture, &C. — The Protectorate is essentially a stock-raising country. Roughly speaking, Windhuk and the country to the north is a cattle country, and the southern portion is a sheep country. Stock thrive well in nearly every part, and retain their conditiou in times of drought in a wonderful way. No artificial feeding is required. 17,266 cattle and 87,000 sheep were exported in 1919. In 1914 there were 240.000 cattle and 1, 125,000 small stock : the estimated number in 1920 was 400,000 cattle and 2. -JJ5, 000 sheep and goats. No agriculture is possible without irrigation, except in the north-west, and there unseasonable or poor rains frequently result in very poor crops.

The German Administration tried to encourage the tobacco industry, but with verv little success ; and although cotton and wheat do fairly well, the principal crop is maize.

Approximately 37,000,000 acres have been taken up, out of a total of 207,000,000.

A Land Board has baen established, and farms are being given out on 5- year leases, with the option of purchase on an instalment principle. Personal occupation is an essential. As boring is necessary on nearly all vacant Government ground before it can be allotted, the Board can only go slowly. Fifty-eight drills have been purchased by the Administration for this purpose. The usual size of farms is 3,000 hectares in the north and 10,000 to 20,000 in the south. A hectare is roughly 2 47 a res. Large numbers of applications for farms have been received.

Harbours. — The harbours in the Protectorate are Luderitzbncht and Walvis Bay. The German Administration utilised Swakopmund, which lies 21 miles to the north of Wains Bay, but it has now been abandoned as a port in favour of Walvis Bay. It is, however, gaining favour as a seaside resort. Better facilities for handling cargo are required at both Luderitz- bucht and Walvis Bay.

Communications. — The Wireless Station (Telefuncken System) at Windhuk, which in 1914 was one of the most powerful in the world, is not being used, nor is the German Cable Station at Swakopmund. Cables are sent to Cape Town for despatch.

The total length of Government railway lines is 967 miles of 3ft. 6in. gauge, and 98 miles of 2ft. gauge ; and of private lines 98 miles. There are no made roads outside of the villages. The distance from Cape Town to Windhuk is 1,383 miles, and the journey occupies three days and four nights. There are two mail trains a week.

Books of Reference.

AngraPeqnefia. Copy of Despatch from the Earl of Derby to H.M.'s High Commission in 8. Africa relative to the Establishment of a German Protectorate at Anzra Peqnefia and along the Coast. London, 1884.

Report on the Natives of South-West Africa, and their treatment by Germany. (Cd. 9146). London, 1918. " '