The National tribune., 1890-08-28


drinks have to be provided at the travellers
expense. Our first 30 miles, TO tho boundary,
lay through karoO veldt, fearfuIly burnt by
the Summer sun, no rain having fallen for
eight months. At last almost choked with the
dust, wo reached the Faal River which we
crossed on llOat propelled by means Of chains
Tho Naal is a pretty stream about $50 yards
broad, aud flowing loisuroly along between its
wilow-covcrcd banks. On tho Transvaal side
of the river we had TO undergo tho customary
tustom-housc examination, after which we
continued on our journey. The change in the
appearance of the country on both sides of tho
river is simply astounding. On one side the
sandy, barren llaroO veldt, on tho other bcau-
tiiul meadows aud fields, dotted everywhere
by accacias and wild pear trees This is an
other proof in support of my theory that the
whole of Cape Colony is of volcanic origin,
having been uphcavcd within historic times.
Another proof IS that innumerabe shells and
sea-lo8sils are found rs far north as the Vaal
River yet never beyond.
oar first stopping place for the night was
about 10 miles beyond the Vaal crossing, but
on the borders of that river, which wo had
followed in its winding course for nearly four
hours. Dusty and bogrimed, we made our way
10 the river and had n glorious swim one
OF our party was fortunate enough TO find
small diamond on its banks, which he immCdi-
ateiy hid, FOR fear of the detectives. After
dinner consisting OF mutton and potatoes, and
several drinks we turned into our neither
oyor-clcan nor over-soft cOuches. Referring to
drinks, It may interest you 10 know that only
mliiionaires can afford TO got intoxicated on
the road between Kimberley and Johaunis-
burg aH the prices Of liquors are prohibitive
A small glass Of beer costs 371 cents "A glass OF
soda water p cents, small brandy and soda
30 cents, aud so on. This to certain extent,
decreases inicmperancc, but other vices make
up for this enforced abstinence
We wore called at 3 o'clock the next morn
ing and were thus compelled 20 witness another
marYclously beautiful sunrise. Having swai-
lowed a hot dcc0cli0n OF liquid mud, which
they termed coffee, nc proceeded on our way.
lho morning air was biting cold, aud continued
so until the sun was fully above tho horizon
About three miles beyond the station we camo
across small herd OF "springbok =" n species Of
antelope. As it was not the proper season we did
not shoot any, but had 20 content ourselves with
watching the graceful creatures tearing across
the country with huge springs or Jumps, which
carried them along with the speed Of the wind
AZ 10 clock we reached Bosboi "a little village
which, although on our road, lies within tho
boundaries Of the Orange FREQ State Having
had u substantial break fast on mutton aud pota-
tocs. We started anew, aud in four hours reached
Ghrlstiaua, the haven of refuge of all OF KIM
bcrlcy's escaped /. -. rs Christiana is n
hall.ciad, hitby children running after the
coach, asking Tor money pigs and fowls, living
rs Do were within the dwellings of their owners
aud general slOvenIncss this il the Buer
village. dinner on mutton and potatoes, aud
wc continued along the rather monotonous road
until o'clock, when wo stopped Tor tho night
The house or station is the homestead OF a Dr.
Linn, WHO has lived here loT many years with
his family. Again we had mutton aud potatoes,
E4F IpI 81
constantly recurring mutton and pratics," |
asked the worthy Doctor the where aud the
whylOrci but he could give no explanation be-
yond the TACT that mutton was cheap which |
suppose IS the chief reason Of It's apparent pop
uarity.
The next morning We were called at
o'clock, and more sleepy aud ghiveriug lot Of
mserabIe5 than we, it would be difficult TO find
NJ. aud I. again, aud oil we started at a hard
gaIIop, oar team Of Il strupping horses being
the champions of the service.
During tho previous evening we had been
passed by the mail COACH which travels, without
stopping, night and day and We were very
aRfecably surprised 20 oyortake it nj about
o'clock in the morning stuck hub,dcep in the
choicest OF choice Irausyagl mud. having been
detained there seven hours. With loud
hurlah we swept past them in the dry part Of
the road, and continued on our journey until
about IL, when We arrived within sight of
picturesque, wood-cnshroudcd Potchcfstroom.
the former Capital of tho State, where wo re-
maiucd iOr dinner. POtchefstrOOm was founded
some time in tho '30s by the wandering Beers
who bad becn driven out Of the Cape Colony bv
the superior power of tho English and their
allies. IL contains about 10000 inhabitants Of
all sorts and conditions, ana is entirely sur.
rounded by groves and woods. 1t lies south
aud on tho banks Of the Mooi River and is
tho prcttiest and clcauost town
in the Trmsyual.
Here let me remark that all towns in the
Transyaai arc governed by the Volkaraad, or
National Legislature. aud that mono of them
have franchises Tho evils resulting from this
course arc obvious for bribery, corruption and
venality abound from the highest to the low
est official.
But, to turn aside from unnatural man to
natural nature POtchcfstrOom is a veritable
New England village; the streets are wide and
lined with large shade-trecs, gardens orna-
mcnt the front OF every house. and flora in
general seems to hold complete sway. Ii has
one fault, the fault of all Transvual towns
It's streets are lightIcss after sundown and
as dark as pitch, making il decidedly unsafe
for tho belatcd pedestrian to walk unpro.
tected along them. We had really excel
<so.a~~>~