Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-05-16

cialIy watered. The rivers are iringed with
mmosas and for a considerable distance from
their beds the grass is Of the sweetest quail
ty, alternating with shrubbery winch yields
the finest winter fodder for sheep, The prai-
ries breed great numbers Of cattle and horses
Sheep husbandry is a most thriving branch Of
industry, upwards Of 4,0OO,0 600 lbs. having
been exported between January and Septem-
Der, 1852, and great attention has been plid
to the improvement Of the breed. The more
mountainous districts arc well suited to the
cultivation Of wheat, indian corn, garden
vegetables and fruit and, Icing abunJantly
supplied with water power, mineral coal and
iron, to the pursuits Of mechanical industry
The roads in this young republic are a.
ready excellent. Societies for the promotion
of agriculture and other material interests
have been organized, wealth is rapidly aceu-
mulating, and everything promises the COM
plete success Of the new political State.
There is within the territory Of the Rerub-
lie very considerable native and mixed pop
ulation, and one of their towns is said to
contain 10000 inhabitants. Some Of the
tribes have made great progress in the arts
of civilization, and they are all in II good de-
gree weaned from savage habits, and depend
upon agriculture and other branches Of pro-
ductiye industry, rather than upon the un-
certainty of the chase.
The Transvaal Republic lies between %
nl. md
80 f. Lon. The Blue or Quathamba chain
divides it from Natal on the East 1T is bounded
South by the Naal river, and West and North
by the Limpopo and its tributary the Meri'
qua, which separate it from the territory
of the native tribes Of the Betschuana Tace.
The area exceeds 30, 900 square miles. ThG
surface is irregular, traverse1 by mountain
chains OF considerable elevation, and water
ed bv numerous large streams. The sJil is Of
excellent quality, mixture Of loan, clay and
sand, seldom showing bare rock or steep slopes
and is almost everywhere covered with trees
and shrubbcry, or spreads into rolling rrai-
ries, clothed with luxuriant pasturage. The
climate much resembles that Of southern
Europe, with mild winters and temperate
summers, and there is no regular alienation
Of dry and rainy seasons. The number Of
aged persons, and the rapid increase Of the
white population, which in lSj2 had already
reached the number of 10 600, are sufficient
proof Of Its salubrity. All European and
many tropical plants thrive here. Grass of
good quality for pasturage grows to the height
of six or seven feet, and the grain crops are
quadruplc those of Holland Oranges and
lemons abound, stone fruits begin to bear
the third or fourth year, and the vine yields
pleatifully after the second.
But these advantages are attended with
some evils. The northeastern district is un-
healthy and rendered almost uninhabtable
for man or cattle by singing insects. These
inconveniences are not experienced further to
the South, but the pastures and fields are
sometimes laid waste by locusts, the gardens
destroyed by laryn and beetles, and the houses
infested by ants. All the wild animals o!
South Africa are found in great numbers, but
the lion and other beasts Of prey seldom ap-
proach human habitations.
The form of government, though somewhat
different from that of Orange River, is strict
ly republican, and most official persons serve
without pay. The laws and language are
those of Holland, and the proportion of Eng
lish settlers is much smaller than in Orange
River.
The occupations of the people are rather
pastoral than agricultural, and the chase,
especially that of the elephant, is a source of
great profit. The cattle are of several races,
native and imported, and there are at least
four different breeds Of sheep, though sheep
husbandry has not become as important as in
Orange River The horses are good, but
from being kept constantly on green food, are
liable to q variety Of diseases. Hay is never
made, but the pastures are burnt over to pro-
cure fresh grass
The natives, about l00, 900 in number,
though apparently less advanced in civiliza-
tion than those Of Orange River, are indus
trious and very useful as shepherds, farm
laborers and household, servants, and are gem
orally pretty well acquainted with the Dutch
language.
The only apparent obstacle to the rapid and
| indefinite progress Of these States, is their
distance from the sea-coast and the total
want Of all facilities for foreign commerce.
Improved means of communication will soon
lessen these evils, and there is little doubt
that the utch-African Republics of Orange
/ T., al n /, b.o En- Ill ell
of Natal and the Cape of Good Hope, will at no
distant day, unite and compose new confed-
| Grafton. Which of the two races, English or
| Dutch, will be the most influential element in
! the future national character, cannot now be
determined, but there is every prospect that
the Government will be that Of free Re-
public, and it may be hoped that its institu-
tions will combine the best moral and politi-
cal features that characterize the social life of
| the two great nations from which its popula-
tion will have sprung.
The British colony of Natal lies upon the
Indian Ocean, between 2S > 80 and g. : 5. L.
1t is bounded south by Caffraria, west by the
Blue mountains which separate it from the
South African Republics, and north by the
territory of the Sulu chieftain Panda. Ihe
extent of coast is about 200 miles, with but
one tolerable harbor, (that Of Port Natal
and its area Is 1000 square miles, Its terrific
ry is broken and mountainous, with peaks
5000 feet in height and scenery of great
grandeur. The climate is, in general, TEN.
perate and healthy, and the natural products
vegetable and animal, are substantially the
same as those Of other parts Of Southern
Africa.
The white inhabitants, 5000 IN number, ar,
about half Of Dutch and hall Of British ori
gin; the native population exceeds 100000,
The Cape Colony embraces the southern
extremity of the African Continent, and i
bounded north and northeast by the Orang