Transvaal

River Systems.—There are four separate river basins in the Transvaal. Of these the Komati (q.v.) and its affluents, and the Pongola and its affluents rise in the high veld and flowing east ward to the Indian Ocean drain but a comparatively small area of the province, of which the Pongola forms for some distance the south-eastern frontier. The rest of the country is divided between the drainage areas of the Vaal and Limpopo. The ab sence of alluvial deposits of any size is a characteristic of the Transvaal rivers. For the climate of the Transvaal see SOUTH AFRICA, UNION OF.

Vegetation.

Forest patches are confined to deep kloofs, to the valleys of the larger rivers and to the seaward slopes of the Drakensberg and other ranges, where they receive mists and rains from the moisture laden winds. Many trees have been introduced and considerable plantations made, as for instance on the slopes between Johannesburg and Pretoria. Among the most successful of the imported trees are citrus trees, the Australian wattle and the eucalyptus. Grassland is the prevalent association in the province. (See SOUTH AFRICA, UNION OF.) Fauna.—When first entered by white men the Transvaal abounded in big game, the lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, zebra and rhinoceros being very numerous, while the hippopotamus and crocodile were found in all the rivers. The indiscriminate de struction of these animals has greatly reduced their numbers. Shooting is now restricted by legislation. In the Pretoria Game Reserve and in the Kruger National Park shooting and hunting are absolutely prohibited. The latter was formed by the amal gamation of the Shingwedzi and Sabie Reserves. It covers over 20,000 sq.m. in the low country, and promises to be one of the finest nature reserves in the world.

Insects abound, the greatest pest being the tsetse fly, common in the low veld. Six species of tick, including the blue tick com mon throughout South Africa, are found, especially in the low veld, where they are the means of the transmission of disease to cattle. Mosquitoes, locusts and ants are also common.

Population.

The population in 1921 included 543,485 whites, who had increased by 1931 to 695,963. A large proportion of these live on the Witwatersrand, on the coalfield or in Pretoria. The natives in 1921 numbered 1,495,869. Apart from the large numbers employed in the gold and coal mines, the natives are found chiefly in the northern part of the province. Basuto are numerous in the Zoutpansberg and Lydenburg districts. Be chuana are largely confined to the west and south-west. Ama zulu are found principally in the Wakkerstroom and Standerton districts, and Amaswazi in the Barberton, Ermelo and Wak kerstroom districts. Shangaan and other East Coast tribes form

an appreciable element in Barberton, Lydenburg and Zoutpans berg. Asiatics totalled nearly 16,0oo. They are largely engaged in trade, and are settled on the Witwatersrand, in Pretoria and Barberton. The number of mixed and others was 32,291. These include a few Hottentots and Koranna, who live chiefly in the south-west of the province. (See SOUTH AFRICA, UNION OF, and separate articles on the several tribes.) Towns.—Pretoria is the administrative capital of the Trans vaal, and of the Union of South Africa. The city of Johannes burg is the largest urban agglomeration in the Union. Germiston and Boksburg are virtually suburbs of Johannesburg. Among the other towns are Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp, Middelburg, Bar berton, etc. (See separate articles.) Mineral Resources.—The Transvaal, the principal gold pro ducing country in the world, is noted for the abundance land variety of its mineral resources. The minerals chiefly mined besides gold are diamonds and coal, but the country possesses also platinum, silver, iron, copper, lead, cobalt, sulphur, saltpetre and many other mineral deposits.

Gold.—The principal gold-bearing reefs are found along the Witwatersrand ("The Rand"). Probably connected with the Rand reefs are the gold-bearing rocks in the Klerksdorp, Potchef stroom and Venterskroon districts. Other auriferous reefs are found all along the eastern escarpment of the Drakensberg and are worked in the De Kaap (Barberton) district, on the Swaziland frontier, in the Lydenburg district, in the Murchison Range and in other places in the Zoutpansberg. Goldfields also exist in the Waterberg and on the western frontier in the Marico district (the Malmani fields). The total value of the gold extracted from mines in the Transvaal from 1884 to 1926 was £885,841,707. (See also SOUTH AFRICA, UNION OF: Geology.) Diamonds.—The chief diamond fields are in the Pretoria dis trict. The ground was discovered to be diamondiferous in 1897, but it was not until 1903, when mining began on the Premier mine, situated 20 M. north-east of Pretoria, that the wealth of the fields was proved. In June 1903 mining began and the diamonds found in the first five months realized over £90,000. On the 27th of January 1905, the largest diamond in the world, weighing 3,025i carats, over II- lb. avoirdupois, was found in the mine and named the Cullinan. The Premier mine is of the same character as the diamond mines at Kimberley (see DIAMOND), and is con siderably larger. The area of the "pipe" containing blue ground is estimated at 350,000 sq.yd.