The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-11-07
THE DARK CONTINENT.
from private letter OF J. r. Patterson
now travelling in Airica.l

South AFRICAN REP CBLIC,
@ Sept. 10Th 1889.
/ am still here awaiting ad-
vertising matter which may ar
rive any day when l will gladly
leave for a more congenial So
journ in the coast towns.
The accounts of excessive
raihs in the states make Us feel
that we are badly neglected in
that respect, as every thing Is as
dry as a chip and not a blade of
green grass TO be seen.
l went out to "Orange Grove"
six miles distant from here last
Sunday it being a p ace Of re-
creation for the people Of
Johannesburg and the nearest
watering place to the town.
The spring affords just en-
ough water to run about 200
yards before the sun and dry
soil absorbs it. A hotel, horse
stable and spacious bar room
are the principle buildings of
the place the latter being the
most attractive feature. There
ia very pretty cultivated Or
ange Grove with rustic seats be-
meath their fragrant and de-
lightful shades and which are
the only trees / have seen since
l came to Johannesburg. Large
numbers Of people flock there
on Sundays and sit under these
trees and are served with differ
ent drinks from the bar room
which they imbibe by degrees
and enjoy themselves all day.
The formotion of the country
in the vicinity Of Johannesburg
is quite singular and different
from any part Of Africa 1 have
seen. 1t il thrown up in rugged
heaps of rocks and different
colors of soil which is sugges-
tive Of its famous gold mines and
of past earth quakes.
The mania for prize fighting
is greater here than ever in
America. One has just come off
between Couper and Bendorf
the former winning the fight
and the enormous sum Of four
thousand pounds. l was not in
teresteu to the amount of five
pounds the price OF admission
and consequently did not see it.
But l must tell of one I did
witness without hinder or price
at the hotel last night.
Just after the dinner hour 7
p. IN. two young Engljshmen
commenced a quarrel in the
public drawing room about a
girl with whom they were both
in love, and they were about to
fight it out right then and there
when the crowd proposed for
them to settle it by regular
"prize fight" rules and they
readily agreed. A second was
selected for each man who di-
vested them Of pistols and
knives and a ring was formed
in front of the hotel and the
word given to ego" and they
fought 25 rounds lasting about
an hour. They were terribly
bruised up with mass Of blood
about their faces. About the
Goth round one became very
weak his opponent knocking
him down at every approach.
! On the 2lst round the weak
man was knocked down and
tainted, but his second would
hold him up and fan him until
"time" was called when be
would go for his apponent with
just enough strength to fall up
against him when he would be
felled again to the ground. The
25th round ended the disgusting
sight by O blow on the nose
(which sent him to the ground
sprawling and he was unable t.
rise again.
The girl who caused the
trouble was a guest at the hotel
and in the house at the time, but
l do not know that she witness
ed the fight from the window
Our American girls are trem an
dously sweet and dear, but
trust it may never fall to my
lot to pass through such an or
deal to vindicate loye and honor
There has been no recen'
news here from Stanley aud
should not be much surprised
if he was keeping quiet as al
advertising dodge to inteusif!
the sensation when he is heart
/ from. You will remember hi
t reports to the New York Heral'
> of the Berry and Rhody Low
erry episode from Robesol
4 County n. G. which in some re
spects illustrates the manner O
D man he is.
There is q big trouble be
t tween this government and tn
: natives of Zontanspanstory 6is
triot and those of Matabelaland
! This government is sendin
: guns and amunitions to the boz
. der and an engagement ma
soon follow. The Zontanspans
:. tory district is under the Trans
= vaal government and the ns
9 tives refuse to pay their take
on cattle and land and in repl
to the government demands th
Il natives have sent a half ctoruo