over internal affairs. In practice, a symbiotic relationship developed be-
tween the chiefs and the British officials. The chiefs used the officials to
strengthen their position against internal rivals and factions. Indeed, the
northern Tswana retained exclusive control over most of their land, except
for a strip along the eastern border for a railroad to the Zambezi and
beyond. In I896-97,
however, the northern Tswana were hit especially
hard by the rinderpest. After that, they, like other African societies in the
region, were obliged to send out some of their young men to work in the
mines.v'
The Sotho, who were separated from Griqualand West by the Orange
Free State, became closely integrated into the regional economy as sup-
pliers of grain and labor to the diamond-mining industry, but they con-
tinued to experience political turmoil. They suffered internally from in-
tense rivalries among the chiefs, notably among Moshoeshoe's sons and
grandsons. Moreover, Great Britain, which had annexed "Basutoland" in
1868, incorporated it in the Cape Colony in I87I, and the:colonial govern-
ment proceeded to appoint magistrates with instructions to undermine the
authority of the chiefs, as they were doing in Xhosa country. Resentment by