SWAZILAND extends between the Drakenberg and the Lebombo range. It is cut off from the Indian ocean by a strip of country from 3o to 5o m. broad. Its area is 6,705 sq. miles.
Much of the country consists of ridges of high land running out from the Drakenberg. In the west, the general elevation is about 4,000 feet. In the east, the ground falls to 400-1,000 feet. Swaziland is drained by the Usutu and other tributaries of the Maputa; and by the Komati (q.v.) and Umbelozi which flow through watergaps or poorts into Delagoa bay.
The low veld, in the rain shadow of the Lebombo range, has a low rainfall, but on the high veld in the west, rains are more copious and good pasture is present. The relation of altitude to mean annual rainfall is Mbabane (3,800ft.) 52 in.; Bremersdorp (1,5ooft.) 34 in.; Natalia Ranch (800ft.) 25 inches. The mean temperature at the last station is about F; at Mbabane it is about less. The flora and fauna are similar to the Transvaal and Zululand (q.v.). The high veld is free from malaria, which occurs elsewhere, especially in the low veld. Swaziland is de pendent on road transport, which is either motor-driven or drawn by oxen or mules. Mbabane, the capital, is 5 hr. by mail car from Breyten, in the Transvaal.
The population in 1921 consisted of 2,205 Europeans, seven Asiatics, 444 coloured persons, and 110,295 natives. There are four European villages—Mbabane (260, Bremersdorp (120), Hlatikulu and Goedgegen, and there are Government stations at Mankaiana, Stegi and Pigg's Peak. Most of the Europeans are engaged in farming. The natives are Amaswazi, with a few Ama zulu in the south-eastern districts. Seven or eight thousand natives usually work in the Transvaal. Pop. est. (1932) 125,085.
Of the total area, 163,50o ac. were set aside as native reserves, and the Amaswazi purchased a further 77,000 acres. The rest of the country was regarded as Crown land, and about four-fifths of it has been alienated.
The natives grow maize, Kafir corn and other crops. In 1926 the estimated numbers of live stock were 300,00o cattle, 932 horses, 4,893 asses, 444 mules, io,000 pigs, 325,000 sheep and goats. A further 300,00o sheep come every year to winter in Swaziland. Maize is also cultivated by the white farmers. The country appears to be well suited to fruit growing. Citrus fruits do well in most parts; on the high veld apples, pears, apricots and peaches can be grown, while in the lower parts tropical and sub-tropical fruits succeed. In 1924 about 8,000 ac. were under
cotton. Tobacco is also being grown. The chief market is among the natives, whose wants, however, are few, except for maize.
Gold mining has almost ceased. In 1926 only 1,510 oz. were produced. Cassiterite is worked near Mbabane, the output for 1926 being 189 tons. In 1910 Swaziland came into the customs scheme of the Union of South Africa.
Swaziland does not form part of the Union of South Africa. It is governed by a resident commissioner, responsible to the high commissioner for South Africa. He is assisted by an advisory council of nine members, who are consulted on European mat ters. Most of the revenue is derived from the native hut tax and from customs.
In addition to several Government primary schools at sev eral centres, there are schools connected with the various missions, at which over 4,00o native pupils are being educated. For more advanced work, promising native scholars are sent to institutions in the Union, such as Lovedale, Tiger Kloof, etc. The cost of their tuition and board is paid by the Swazi National Fund, to which each native taxpayer contributes two shillings per annum. There are 16 religious bodies carrying on work in the country, including the English, Dutch, Norwegian, Roman and Swedish Churches. As far as possible most of these bodies avoid encroach ing on each other's sphere of work. (R. U. S.) tribes have been long settled in the country now known as Swaziland. They were formerly called Ba Rapuza or Barabuza after a chief under whom in the 18th century they acquired homogeneity. Early in the 19th century they fell under the dominion of the newly constituted Zulu nation but in 1843 under a chief named Swazi they achieved independence. Ac cording to custom they adopted the name of their deliverer. The Boers of the Transvaal were then beginning to occupy the regions adjacent to Swaziland and in 1855 the Swazi in order to get neutral territory between themselves and the Zulu, whose power they still dreaded, ceded to the Boers the narrow strip of land north of the Pongola river now known as the Piet Retief district. With the Boers the Swazi remained on friendly terms and this friendship was extended to the British on the occupation of the Transvaal in 1877. In 1879 they joined the British in the attack on the Bapedi chief Sikukuni, capturing from him certain "rain medicine," the possession of which increased the prestige of the paramount chief of the Swazi among the natives of South Africa.