Archæology and Surveying in Southern Rhodesia

Abstract

WE have at times had occasion to refer to difficulties placed in the way of archæological and ethnological research owing to vexatious regulations imposed by the governments of the countries in which research is to be prosecuted. It is not often that the other side of the picture is presented, and that an accredited expedition is known to have abused the privileges that have been granted. Our attention has been directed to a particularly flagrant case. The official report of the Debates of the Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia for May 7 records a reference to the case of Dr. Frobenius, who, it will be remembered, conducted an expedition in Rhodesia in 1929 and communicated some of the results of his investigations at Zimbabwe and elsewhere to the South African meeting of the British Association in that year. Dr. Frobenius, it is stated, was in receipt of substantial assistance from the Government of Southern Rhodesia. A money grant of £92:4:0, representing half the costs, was supplemented by an equivalent share borne by the railways, and, in addition, a native commissioner was granted six weeks leave on full pay to assist him.