BASUTOLAND. – A small (30,344 sq. km.) inland territory in southern Africa, situated between the Orange, Natal and the Cape Colony. It corresponds to the headwaters basin of the Orange River; it is therefore a mountainous country (Champagne Castle 3,650 m.), but with valley floors suitable for cultivation (cereals) and good pastures (1.5 million head of sheep; half a million head of cattle). The Basuto, a branch of the Bantu Negroes who replaced the Bushmen, have multiplied since the second half of the last century; today they number about 600,000 (against a mere 1,450 whites), organized as a British Protectorate, administered by a resident commissioner (since 1884) under the control of the British High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa.
APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF BASUTOLAND. – The territory, as a mission, was entrusted to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who began their work around the middle of the last century, when the country still depended on the vicariate of Natal. It was erected as a prefecture on 8 May 1894 and as an apostolic vicariate on 18 February 1909.
The mission had to contend with very great difficulties, some of which came from the French Protestant mission. Today, however, it is in full development.
Among a population that is almost entirely indigenous, numbering 559,273 souls, there are 177,086 Catholics and 15,404 catechumens, 75 quasi-parishes and 258 secondary stations, 107 priests, of whom 3 are indigenous, 67 coadjutor brothers and 408 sisters, many of whom are indigenous. There is a seminary for the indigenous clergy at the apostolic vicar’s seat in Roma di Basutoland. The king of the country is Catholic. Three periodicals are published there, and in 1945 the “Pius XII” university college was established for the indigenous people.