The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-29

$3.50 y. m.) for Kimberley, consists of first,
second and third class compartments, about
eight feet wide and four feet long in which
eight passengers-or rather viCtims-are com
PEELED TO exist for two days and two nights, the
time required TO travel the 6i7 miles separating
Kimberley from its seaport town. Provided
with blankets, or rather "karoses," j. O., goat
skins, provisions. and last, but not least. liquid
| refreshments, bravely installed myself in the
best seat of first-class compartment, at the
same time taking tho necessary precauton TO
bride the conductor, guard, as he ia designated
in this country, so rs TO keep the compartment
TO myself
loot! toot Tho train begins to move and
begin TO read the latest number of THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE, when, smash, open flies the
door and in falls n semi-inebriated Afrikander.
He ut once begins TO curse the Ever dommde
ultiander" 1.-THE - foreigner) who has taken
tho best seat in the compartment. / listen
patiently until his flow of profanity has some
what abated and then / begin to pump him
regarding the country and tho people.
According to his, at times completely inco-
hereut remarks, the true Afrikauder hates the
"uitlandcrs as much as Lucter is supposed
to dislike holy water. and their greatest wish
is to Gust them from the possession of the coun-
try. Rambling thus he continued to explain
10 me that Che reason he personally disiked
uitlanders so, is because one of them had
eloped with his best girl about "A week pre-.
vionsly. OF course sympllhized with him
aud supplied him with liberal doses Of whisky.
with the result that he became so intoxi-
Gated that nj the first stopping place | tumbIod
him, bag aud baggage, onto the platform, and
hastily closed my door
Until then had had no opportunity of get
ting glimpse of the country. and on looking
out at tho window found that 10 was rs dark
ms pitch, and that ] could see nothing but tho
two sides of the mountain between which we
were passing. We arc travelling at the tre-
mendous speed OF Eve and u quarter miles an
hour, mounting the bills behind Capetown.
Slowly and wearily night drags by, dnring
which time my sleep is interrupted every hour
or so by fiend in human form in tho next com
partmout who Is exercising his vocal powers,
singing we'll known African negro song Gu
titled Down WENT no don't mean that.
What he was trying 30 sing was a Salvation
Army song entitled ITO be there"
Finally morning dawned, and we rolled into
De Aar for an hours stoppagc. / left my
prison and stood eutranced-c by "A
South African sunrise. ! have seen the sun
rise in nearly all parts Of the world from the
snowca capped peaks of Switzerland 10 tho burn
ing plains of Australia, but never have / be-
| held such magnificent grandeur, such sublime
coloring ns on this South African karuUvelit
Imagine an arid stretch Of sand rs far ms
the eye can reach, dotted here aud there by the
stunted karoO bush. some - inches high whilst
now aud again shy herd OF sprngbock darts
across tho range OF vision. Suddenly the silence
Is broken by the low moo" of come patient
oxen, ready for their days work. glimmer
Of light on the distant horizon betokens the
first dawn OF the new day; gradually the
shadows fade; the jaek-fabbt peeps forth from
his hole nature seems to awake here and
there tiny meerkat runs from hole TO hole.
whist the busy ants swarm about in search OF
work. a red arc Is now discern bic in the east
Slowly but surely it grows larger and larger,
until II bursts ia its full glory on tho dazzled
vision Of the beholder. The sun has risen,
surrounded by such coiors add sciutillations a.
to Cause man 10 realize the smallnoss Of his at.
tempts 10 initiate nature.
am rndely awakened from my musings By
| a cry Breakfast Natures cravings are
supreme, and 90 10 breakfast. And oh what
breakfast! Widowed oatmeal. "A piece of sole
| leather mutton, some Indian corn coffee, and
| some splendid goat milk. | managed 90 dis
/ pose Of this mess, and off We go IL miles an
/ hour, across "A seemingly interminable karoo
/ veldt. Several times tho engine gave cut, and
| took the opportunity of making short excur
siOns into the country. What first attracts my
! attention ID the red gypsum soil. similar TO tie
! wheat districts Of Illinois aud Missouri The
ground WAS fearfully parched, owing 10 the
scarcity OF rain, none having fallen for the
| past two months. / should think that with
| proper irrigation, this district would make .
magnificent wheat aud cereal tract
Through some tall athletic and gymnastiC
exercise, | managed TO secure one OF the far.
| famed mecr-kats, aud found TO my intense dis
! gust that they were merely disfeputable ed /.
| ton Of our ehipmnnk. shriIl loot brought
mo back 10 my prison again, and when the day
had finally dragged its slow length by, made
| my preparations for my last night aboard th,
] II Vis.4gi .F.y A..
niicent M the first. and few hours later ",
have entered Griqualand West, aud are within
sight OF Kimberley, the modern Eldorado fol
rich men. EDGAR MELs.