Korsakov, N.: Transvaal and Its Wealth

Title

Transvaal’ i ego bogatstva, Sankt-Peterburg-Moskva 1899

Transvaal and Its Wealth

Keywords

Summary

The book is a historical, political, economical and social overview of South Africa. It is supplemented with 67 illustrations of cities, landscapes, and people of the country. The book opens by recounting a community of Dutch people residing in an English colony, who opt to relocate to a more remote region in Africa beyond the Vaal River. These areas were uninhabited, and the author contends that these individuals, being of simple nature, established a genuine “peasant republic”. This republic lacked a specific name and was simply referred to as Transvaal, that is, the land beyond the Vaal River. Subsequently, this territory came to be known as the South African Republic. Initially, when the republic was economically modest, the English displayed little interest in it. However, England later established a union known as the “Chartered Company” to counter this newly independent territory, founded in 1848. The historical overview of the nation progresses into a social narrative. The author delineates the process of becoming a citizen in the country and explores its social structure. The text delves into the dynamically expanding capital city, Johannesburg, the locations of the goldmines, and details the current president, who is portrayed as an intelligent man who is devoted to his country. Several pages are dedicated to the Boers, providing insights into their attire, customs, and practices. The narrative also touches upon other nationalities present in South Africa, including German residents, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the diverse composition of the region.

Bio

No information on Korsakov’s biography could be found. Presumably, he is the author of other history-based volumes like The Young Heroes of Sevostopol (1904) and The Years of the Patriotic War in the Medallions of Count F.M. Tolstoi (1912).

M.E.

Sources

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