Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-01
NIistakins Mica for Gold.

In some Of the rivers very large quantities
of mica are to be seen which has the appear
ance in the sand, and water especially of gold.
The writer knows of a river which is said BY
natives for it seems to be unknown to others,
to contain large quantities of gold. If one
examines the sand along the ban Ks of this
| river or what is better still, if he looks into
the water, he will see many large particles
which look exactly like gold, but which are
pieces of mica of yellowish color. 1t is
this which the natives OF that vicinity call
| gold. 1t may be added, however, that there
is gold in this river, as the writer subsequent
| ly learned. About the reef gold not much
| can be said now. Several gold-reefs, which
| are claimed to be very rich, have been
marked out. As there are fully 200 men at
present looking for gold in this country, it
| will be but short time before much will be
known of the mineral wealth of Mashona-
land.
Mashonaland abounds in game of great
variety. All species of South African ante
lopes are quite plentiful, while the gnu is
occasionally met with in a large herds.
Zebra and giraffe are less common, but are
not unfrequently seen by hunters. A few
years ago elephants wer. found here in
grea: numbers, but they have been hunted
SO much for ivory that only one or two
herds are left. Many of tn. rivers Of
Mashonaland are the homes of the hippopot-
anus and crocodile. Lions and leopar,s
are altogether too plentiful for the good cf
horses and cattle. Several valuable horses
and perhaps a dozen cattl- belonging to the
pioneer force have been kill.d by the king
of beasts. The lions are very bold, and will
come close to large camp and attack horses
and cattle.
A Battle With q Leopard.
a short time ago two men had an en-
counter with leopard in which on of the
men very nearly lost his life. An animal
supposed to be either a lion or leopard, was
observed to enter some high grass.
One of the men took his rifle
and sent his dog into the grass. Almost In
mediately the dog barked, and a huge
leopard sprang from the grass at the man,
who fired and shot the animal in the mouth.
The leopard did not stop, but leaped onto
the man. His companion, who was close
by, at once shot the creature behind the
shoulders. Then it turned upon him, and
was about to strike him when the dog seized
it by one of the lind feet. This made the
leopard turn for the dog, when both men
fired simultaneously and killed the leopard.
One of the men had his clothes torn to
pieces, his face and body badly cut and his
rife strap broken by the brute. The leopard
was large one, measuring nine feet in
length.
Baboons may be found upon nearly every
one of the many granite hills. Wolves,
jackals and hyaenas have frequently made
night hideous in the vicinity of the writer's
various camps.
The above is an attempt to give an ac-
count of the great work which the
British South African Company has
undertaken to do, and judging from the
manner in which it has begun its work who
can doubt its future success. Surely COM
pany headed by such men as this company
is, with so many millions at its command aud
with everything in its favor at present, will
not fail to accomplish what it intends do
ing, viz, the opening up of a region as
large as France and Spain to the commerce
and civilization of the world.
CLAIRE A. ORE.