1955
Grass strips 2 - ploughing
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 338
|
Probably the only successful example
of foreigners arriving and trying to change people's consciousness in Swaziland
is the Grass Strips Silume. In order to minimise soil erosion, the British made
people plough along contours and the British put in grass strips. Anyone not
conforming was fined. This caught on and is now a feature of the landscape.
Photo 2 of sequence - demarcating of grass strip - small terrace. Farmers know
to leave that and will plough in between - catch soil from above, anti erosion
device. Grass strips 6 ft wide every 4 ft interval. All done between 1948 and
1956. Protected 70 000 acres/30 000 ha mainly maize fields - subsistance
farming fields. Mahlangatsha
|
1955
Mother and Child
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 364
|
Beauty Dlamini. Sitting in garden of
Bremersdorp Hotel. Seamstress/dressmaker of Maliyaduma.
|
1955
Nguni Cattle
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 300
|
Siphofaneni, near the dip,
Ushweni hill, above Siphofaneni hotsprings on south bank of the Usuthu. These
are fairly purebred Nguni Cattle, a breed known for its hardiness and
resistance to disease. These cattle accompanied the Swazi on their
migrations.
|
1955
Rural People
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 385
|
The British organised an efficient
countrywide milk collection system to help farmers. Here is the field dairy at
Vikisejula. On the right is John Makisikisi Dlamini, the assistant to the
Agricultural Officer.
|
1955
Suits in Bush
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 392
|
SARCCUS (Southern African Regional
Committee for the Conservation and Utilisation of Soil) meeting in the bush,
the suits are unusually formal. The British controlled overgrazing and had
regular veld inspections. All Government mail envelopes had "The Soil is
our Greatest Asset, help preserve it" printed on them.
|
1955
Waiter
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 397
|
Bremersdorp Hotel Garden, 1955;
became Manzini Arms in 1962, later the Prince Velabantu with Uncle
Charlies.
|
1955
White Stones
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 402
|
Bremersdorp jail, near Tiger City in
Zakhele. Prisoners indulged the British in their enthusiasm for painting stones
white.
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1956
Beer Drinkers
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 312
|
Second picture in
series, taken at the Lenono homestead between Sitobela and Makhobeni, on the
Magongo range of hills. They are drinking "tchwala" (beer) made from
sorghum.
|
1956
Bremersdorp
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 309
|
Taken from the head office of
Department of Agriculture in Bremersdorp looking at the maize silos/government
grain tanks - possibly early Swazi Warehouse. The hill in the distance is
Sikosane.
|
1956
Department of Agriculture Show
Photographer: George Murdoch
Source: George Murdoch |
Photo No. 331
|
The British loved exhibitions with
prizes, both as a way of giving people incentives and to promote new
technology. Here new rat proof metal mealie tanks are shown next to traditional
grass ones.
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