Bechuana-Land

Bechuana-Land was the name of an inland tract in South Africa, that extended from the Orange River to the Zambesi, which had German territory on the West, and the Transvaal and Matabele-land on the East. The whole country was under British protection. That part which was South of the river Molopo was made a crown colony in 1885, ad was known as the Bechuanaland Protectorate, which became the independent nation of Botswana in 1966.

It was situated on a plateau 4000 ft. above sea-level, the climate was good. The soil was fertile; extensive tracts were suitable for corn; sheep and cattle thrived; rains used to fall in summer; in winter there were frosts, sometimes snow. The Kalahari Desert in the West saw development works and were mostly inhabitable. Nevertheless, wells were dug to make it inhabitable. Gold was found near Sitlagoli, and diamonds at Vryburg. The Bechuanas of the region were the most advanced of the black races of South Africa.

Nearby pages
Bechuanas, Beck, Becket, Beckmann, Beckoning