Basutoland
a native province and British South African territory, between the provinces of Orange Free State, Natal and Cape of Good Hope. The Basutos belong chiefly to the great stem of the Bechuanas, and have made greater advances in civilization than perhaps any other South African race. In 1866 the Basutos, who had lived under a semiprotectorate of the British since 1848, were proclaimed British subjects, their 140, country placed under the government of an agent, and in 1871 it was joined to Cape Colony. In 1879 the attempted enforcement of an act passed for the disarmament of the native tribes caused a revolt under the chief Moirosi, which the Cape forces were unable to put down.
When peace was restored Basutoland was disannexed from Cape Colony (1884), and is now governed by a resident commissioner under the High Commissioner for South Africa. Basutoland has an area of about 11,700 square miles, much of it covered with grass and there is but little wood. The climate is pleasant. Capital, Maseru. The chief BATAVIA products are wool, wheat, mealies, and Kaffir corn. The natives keep large herds of cattle. The revolt in Basutoland led by Masupha came to an end Feb. 1, 1898. In 1903 it became a member of the South African Customs Union. Pop. about 405,000.