ABSTRACT
In 1939, under the New Native Administration Proclamation, Basutoland was divided into eighteen districts, varying in size from 30,000 to 130,000 inhabitants, 316 sub-districts, varying from 600 to 20,000 inhabitants and 1,006 wards, varying from less than 50 to over 500 inhabitants. This division of the country refers to the Basuto political organization and not to the organization of the British Administration. The chieftainship is one of the most important institutions of the Basuto and questions of succession are among the most burning and contentious matters in Sesuto public life. Formerly, although succession remained within the chief's family, the law was sometimes modified by extraneous considerations, such as the popularity or ability of the claimants. Questions concerning succession are dealt with in the first instance by a council of the important members of the chief's family, together with the heads of the leading sections of the tribe.
