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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 72

Field of the B.S.A. Company's Operations

Field of the B.S.A. Company's Operations.

The Company's operations include the whole of the British sphere north of the Zambesi, except Nyassaland, placed under the control of an Imperial Commissioner. In 1889 three missions were despatched by the British South Africa Company; one under Mr. Lochner to the King of the Barotse, whose territory extends from the Portuguese province of Angola, over about 225,000 square miles: another under the African traveller, Mr. Joseph Thomson, whose health unfortunately was greatly impaired by this expedition, to the Chiefs north of the Zambesi between the Barotse and Nyassaland; the third under Dr. Jameson, now Administrator of Mashonaland, to Gungunyane, the King of Gazaland. Friendly relations were established, and several valuable concessions, securing trading and mineral rights, as well as considerable tracts of territory, were obtained. It is intended to open up communication with Barotseland from Nyassa in the first instance, and later from Mashonaland.

The total extent of the British South Africa Company's territory, south and north of the Zambesi, is estimated at about 750,000 square miles, an area exceeding that of France, Germany, Austria, and Italy combined. A considerable part of this region consists of plateau lands lying at an elevation of from 4,000 to 4,500 feet. On these highlands south of the Zambesi the climate is healthy and well suited to Europeans, and the country generally is well adapted for agricultural purposes.