The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-12-13
AFRlCA'S GOLD FIELDS,
wonderful Discovery Recently Made in ths
Dark Continent.


One Of the first African explorers
who made his way across that continent
records that at one place in the far in.
terror the natives were using placer
gold in their old muskets as a substi-
tute for lead shot. The former was
worth no more to them than lead, and
the inference of the explorer was that
the gold must be abundant, as the ma.
tives obtained it without any great ex-
ertion. Recent accounts published of
gold discoveries in the Transvaal Re-
public of South Africa 90 far to confirm
the theory that the gold mines yet to be
explored in South Africa may be as
productive as those were in California
or Australia. One town has sprung up
--Johannesburg-on the edge of the
gold fields, that now contains 40. 900 in
huDiJants. The yield in six months Of
the present year of these mines has
been S4,0O0,000. These mines are sew
eral hundred miles beyond the famous
diamond mines of Kimberly. The
latter mines are already connected with
the sea coast by railroad. Miners
are now flocking to the gold mines in
the Transvaal Republic in great mum.
bers. In all such mining excitements
there is great deal of fiction mixed up
with the facts. But far beyond the
Transvaal Republic, IN MaShuna land,
there are reports of wonderful discover.
les, surprising in richness any hereto,
fore known. The natives are extreme
ly hostile to the whites. But the latter
are pushing on to the mines. If the gold
is there it may be assumed that no native
hostility will keep the miners out. The
latest theory is that the real Ophir is in
Mashuna land. But it may be noted
that Ophir is always moved along to the
richest mines that are found. However,
on the theory that Solomon pro.
cured his gold for the temple from the
southwest coast of Africa, Ophir might
as well be located in the mysterious
Mashuna land as elsewhere, until the
next famous discovery is made in Africa
Nothing of consequence has for some
years been reported about gold in Cen.
trail Africa. Vague accounts are given
from time to time of natives who have
both gold and ivory to exchange
for goods. Africa, as a gold-bearing
country, is virgin ground. The
theory has long prevailed that it is the
richest gold country in the world. This
theory is partly supported by tradition
and in part by such accounts as have
been given from time to time by ex'
plorers. The isolated traveller could dc
little in the way of gathering informa,
ton about the mineral resources of the
African continent. That was not his
business. These early explorers only
incidentally mention the finding of gold
as If it were really Of no great imror
tance in comparison with other objects
to be attained. But whenever the fact
- -i-~-1J a--~-~-,-s--t-' 49, 49,
great and rich gold fields in Africa moth,
ing in the climate nor in the hospitality
of the native population will keep back
those who are in search of the colder
fleece. The discovery of vast gold field:
in Africa might be disastrous to the
natives, but it would introduce a crude
civilization, the pioneer of still better
one which will one day take possession
of the entire African continent.-Sa1
Francisco Evening Chronicle.