BECHSTEIN, LUDWIG ( 1801-60). A German author, born at Weimar. He first studied phar macy, but subsequently devoted himself to the study of philoE,ophy, literature, and history at the universities of Leipzig and Munich, and in 1831 was appointed librarian of the Ducal Li brary at Meiningen. He was a learned student of Germanic folk-lo•e, wrote novels and verses, but is chiefly known for his collection of fairy-stories. His publications include the poems Der Tatra tan,.:- (Leipzig, 1831) and Luther (1834) ; the tale, Fahrten cincs Musikanten (1836-37) ; and the Dcutschcs Miirchenbac:t (1879) and Ncues deutsehes ildrehenbach (1882).
BECHUANALAND,be-ehwii'nn-Ilind. A name applied to the territory in southwestern Africa inhabited by the Bechuanas (q.v.) (Map: Cape Colony, H 4). It includes the Crown colony of Bechuanaland, annexed to Cope Colony since 1895, and the Bechuanaland Protectorate. The latter comprises all the territory bounded by the \lolopo and the Zambezi rivers, the Transvaal Colony, southern Rhodesia, and German South west Africa. Its area is estimated at 213,000 square miles. Bechuanaland is for the most
part a high plateau, with an elevation of from 4000 to 5000 feet, and is more adapted for cattle raising than for grain. In spite of its almost tropical situation, the climate is only a little inferior to that of Cape Colony and is very healthful for Europeans. The country is poorly watered, and there are several dry river-beds, which fill up during the rainy season. The chief industry is cattle-raising. The protectorate is administered by the native chiefs under the guidance of a British Resident. The revenue is derived from customs and a hut-tax, the latter collected by native chiefs. There is a railway line open beyond Buluwayo, in Rhodesia. The population is estimated at 200.000, and consists chiefly of the tribes of Bamangwato, Bakhatla, IlakWena Bangwaket se. and Bamaliti. They have their fixed boundary lines, and have re tained some of their political institutions. Con sult: Annual British Colonial Reports (Lon don) Ma cnab, On Veldt and Farm (Londc,n. 1900).