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214 MOZAMBIQUE 



some beverages at reasonable times is good for 

 natives ; I only plead that in this, as in all other 

 things connected with the African, we should 

 endeavour to understand the circumstances — so 

 far as our limited understanding will permit us ; 

 for there is a gulf we can never cross — before 

 forming own judgments. 



An agreement exists between the Transvaal and 

 Mozambique under which the former for certain 

 equivalents is permitted to recruit natives in Por- 

 tuguese East Africa for the Witwatersrand mines. 

 This privilege is taken up from time to time and 

 made the subject of denunciation in the Press 

 by patriotic Portuguese, who write with very little 

 experience of the subject, or by journalists hard 

 up for copy. It is a popular rod with which to 

 beat the Government. Kecruiting is condemned 

 because, it is said, the men who are sent to the 

 Kand are required for the country ; agricultural 

 development being retarded by this drain on the 

 labour resources, and also because of the mortality 

 on the mines. 



The number of natives received by the Wit- 

 watersrand Native Labour Association from Por- 

 tuguese East Africa during the year ending 

 December 31st was 62,317, the number actually 

 employed on the last day of that year being 



