RHODESIA, the name given to a region in South Africa extending from the Transvaal province north to the bor ders of the Congo State and former Ger man East Africa; bounded on the E. by Portuguese East Africa, Nyasaland and German East Africa, and on the W. by Congo State, Portuguese West Africa and Bechuanaland. The territory was chartered by the British South African Company in 1889, founded by Cecil John Rhodes. The region S. of the Zambesi river is known as southern Rhodesia and N. of the river northern Rhodesia. Total area, 440,000 square miles. Pop ulation in 1919 estimated from 877,000 to 884,000. The company's administra tion of southern Rhodesia consists of 3 members appointed by the company and approved by the Secretary of State, and a Legislative Council of 6 members ap pointed by the company and 12 elected by the voters. A Resident Commission is appointed by the Secretary of State. In 1919, 500,000 acres of land were re served for ex-service men who had fought in the World War.
Southern Rhodesia has an area of 149,000 square miles. Pop. (1919) : Na tives 770,000, Europeans 38,000. Capi tal, Bulowayo. Imports (1918) £355, 712; exports, £343,338. Gold output in 1919, £2,500,000; silver (1917), £211,989; copper, £414,448; chrome ore, £327,347. There are about 2,500 miles of railroads. In 1911 the two provinces of Northeast Rhodesia and Northwest Rhodesia were amalgamated under the name of North ern Rhodesia Area, 291,000 square miles. Pop., Europeans 2,945, natives
928,000. Capital, Livingston. Principal crops, maize, cotton, and wheat. Coal has been discovered. Rubber is pro duced. The chief minerals are gold, copper and lead. The administration consists of a Resident Commissioner ap pointed by the government and an Ad ministrator appointed by the British South African Company, assisted by an Advisory Council of 5 members. The exports consist chiefly of live-stock, cop per, pig-lead, grain, flour, hides, horns, etc. Throughout the country the condi tions of soil and climate are suitable foi, all kinds of European cereals and vege tables; and, in addition, many trees, shrubs, and plants peculiar to subtropi cal regions, can be successfully culti vated. Good results have already been obtained from the introduction of fruit and other trees. Tobacco occurs in a wild state, is grown universally by the natives, and has been produced of ex cellent quality by white farmers in sev eral districts. India-rubber, indigo, and cotton are similarly indigenous. The Rhodesian forests produce abundance of hard timber of fine quality. The vast territory adjacent to the headwaters of the Zambesi and its tributaries forms the Mississippi valley of Africa. It has a great future.