THE NATIVE TRIBES OF SOUTH WEST AFRICA

First edition: 211 pages, numerous illustrations, green cloth titled gilt on the upper cover and spine, light insect scarring marks on the covers, a very good copy.

Contains: THE OVAMBO by C.H.L. Hahn, Officer in charge of Native Affairs Ovamboland. THE BERG DAMARA by H. Vedder, Praeses of the Rhenish Mission in Damaraland, THE BUSHMEN OF SOUTH WEST AFRICA, by L. Fourie, M.B.E., M.B., F.Z.S., medical officer to the administration, THE NAMA, by H. Vedder, and THE HERERO, by H. Vedder.

It was originally published in 1928 by the South African administration of the Mandate Territory of South West Africa. Its primary, purpose was political. South Africa was required to report on its administration of the territory. This book served to demonstrate the officials' "expertise" and intimate knowledge of the "native problem." It aimed to show the League that the various tribes were at different levels of "development," were inherently separate or antagonistic, and therefore required the paternalistic, segregated rule (the foundation of later apartheid policies) that South Africa was implementing.