SOUTH CENTRAL AFRICA (1932)

This work offers a comprehensive analysis of the history, geography, trade, and transportation systems of the Congo-Zambesi Basin region, with special attention to the mining industry. The author Letcher Owen, who was an mining engineer, journal editor, traveller and the author of famous works "Big game hunting in North-Eastern Rhodesia" and "The gold mines of Southern Africa", combines personal observations with historical and economic data to trace colonial development, the expansion of railway networks, and the strategic role of the exploitation of natural resources, such as gold. Illustrated with numerous photographs and multiple folding "General Map of the Congo Zambesi Watershed and adjacent territories, showing Concession Areas, Mines, Principal Towns, Railway Systems, Rivers, Lakes, etc." and folding "General Map of the Northern Rhodesian Copper Fields" at the rear, the book is considered as an important reference for the study of the economic and political history of southern Africa during the colonial period.

With numerous b&w photographic plates on glossy paper including views of settlements, landscapes, ports, buildings, mines, railways, hunting, maps, etc; including the portraits of Chief Kapijimpanga, His Majesty King Leopold II., His Majesty King Albert., H.R.H. Prince Leopold, Mons. Paul Crokaert, Sir Henry M. Stanley, David Livingstone, Cecil John Rhodes, General Tilkens, Sir Robert Williams, Mons. Jean Jadot, Baron Edmund Carton de Wiart, Colonel G. Heenen, Mons. Edgar Sengier, Mons. Firmin van Bree, Mr. G. C. Hutchinson, Sir Drummond Chaplin, Lieut.-Colonel T. E. Robins, D.S.O., Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, M.P., Sir Edmund Davis, The General Manager and Headquarters Staff of the Rhodesia Railways, etc.

- Chapter XXIX covers Big Game Hunting in South Central Africa.

- Chapter XXVI titled "Other Pioneer Company's which have been largely responsible for the Development of South Central Africa" includes sections about British South Africa Company, Tanganyika Concessions, Wankie Collieries Ltd., Rhodesia Broken Hill, Loangwa Concessions, Kafue Copper Development and Northern Rhodesian Power Company.

CONTENTS:

Preface;
Dedication (English) (French and Portuguese);
Chapter I. - Introductory;
Chapter II. - The First Discoveries; Explorations by the Portuguese; The Search for Prester John;
Chapter III. - Wars and Insurrection in Angola and Mozambique; The Search for Mineral Wealth;
Chapter IV. - First Efforts to Traverse South Central Africa from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean;
Chapter V. - Katanga Copper and the Early Portuguese; The First European Accounts of Mineral Wealth in Central Africa;
Chapter VI. - King Leopold's great project rendered practicable by Stanley's aid; The Founding and Early Development of the Congo Free State;
Chapter VII. - Stairs annexes Katanga on behalf of King Leopold;
Chapter VIII. - The Dawn of Modern Development in Northern Rhodesia; Dealings with Lewanika; The George Grey Expedition;
Chapter IX. - Further Mineral Discoveries; Development of the Copper Industry on both sides of the Border;
Chapter X. - Development of the Copper Mines in the N'Kana Concession;
Chapter XI. - The Congo Belge: A General Outline;
Chapter XII. - The Administration of Native Subjects in the Congo Belge;
Chapter XIII. - Angola's Outstanding Physical Features; Agricultuural and Mineral Prospects;
Chapter XIV. - Northern Rhodesia; Outstanding Features of the Territory;
Chapter XV. - The Railway Systems of South Central Africa. Part I. The Pioneer Lines; Part II. The Benguela Railway and its Prolongation into the Congo;
Chapter XVI. - The Railways of the Congo Belge;
Chapter XVII. - Tanganyika Railways; Lake, River and Road Services in the Congo Belge and adjacent territories;
Chapter XVIII. - The Railways of Rhodesia;
Chapter XIX. - Victoria Falls; The Southern Gateway to Central Africa;
Chapter XX. - Ports, Shipping Services and the Mineral Belt;
Chapter XXI. - Aviation; Flying Services affecting South Central Africa; Aerial Surveys, etc.
Chapter XXII. - Union Miniére du Haut Katanga;
Chapter XXIII. - Industrial Katanga;
Chapter XXIV. - The Northern Rhodesian Copper Fields; Latest Progress;
Chapter XXV. - The Selection Trust Group;
Chapter XXVI. - Other Pioneer Company's which have been largely responsible for the Development of South Central Africa;
Chapter XXVII. - Health and Hygiene on the Copper Belts;
Chapter XXVIII. - The African Lakes Corporation Ltd.;
Chapter XXIX. - Big Game Hunting in South Central Africa;
Chapter XXX. - In Conclusion.

"This volume is the outcome of many thousands of miles of travel in South Central Africa during the past twenty-five years, and of the coordination of many notes and of much correspondence, the perusal of hundreds of volumes and articles, and of meetings with innumerable persons who have played their parts in the development of the Congo-Zambesi watershed and the territories adjacent thereto.

In the times gone by most of the journeyings were accomplished either on foot or in native "dugouts" or, during periods of illness, in a machila or hammock; there were indeed in those days no other means of travel once one had left the railhead at Broken Hill, or had departed from the paddle steamers on the great rivers.

One such journey meant a tramp of over two thousand miles. That was before the Great War, in the days preceding the Petrol Epoch, when Collier's Beacons stood lone and deserted - when the Union Minière was regarded as an heroic but hair-brained adventure, before there was any Elisabethville and the Lubumbashi stream coursed through a territory virtually unknown and undeveloped..."

(from the "Preface" by the Author)

Original illustrated green card covers; Text in English; Collation complete - False title, Title page, 263 pages, with numerous illustrations, portraits and maps + 2 large folding maps at rear; Paperback binding partly dusty/discoloured and with some bumping, spine extremities little chipped, short tear to upper front joint, otherwise the binding is whole, tight and secure. Lower and upper right corners of covers and text block little wavy/dog eared at first 20 pages. Text block/pages bright and clear, no foxing, markings or annotations, the contents are only somewhat damaged with mould damage at the top blank margin towards the rear (starting from page 175). A sound copy.

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