The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-26


might in some cases be condemned by an
English magistrate or inspector.
An extraordinary profuson Of food
awaits the hungry wayfarer, but, alas il
Is quantity and not quality which is at
tanned, and it is easy for the man who
dimes in Dutch hotel at table covered
with every variety of viands to rise from
his repast almost as hungry as he sat
down. The following is the menu of din
ner which awaited our party on our arrival
at Pullen's "winkel" (store and hotel)
where We passed the first night of our
journey:
Oyster soup.
Egg In soupe.
s.isme c she su5ry yis and rice.
Ssleme (sic) duck and kliyea
Roast leg of mutton
Lamb and mint sauce.
Corned mutton.
Saddle of mutton.
Boiled shoulder of mutton aud caper sauce.
Boiled eorned beef.
Boiled ham.
Stuffed roast turkey.
Stuffed roast duck and mushrooms.
Roast fowl
Boiled fowl and oyster sauce
Potatoes.
Beans.
soiled currant pudding and wine sauce.
Fruit pie.
Red currant pie and boiled custard
Tipsey (sic) cake.
Cake a la Meringue.
Queen tart.
Fruit q Ia MsriDgue.
Banch mango and jam.
Raisins and almonds.
can truthfully assert that, having done
my best to partake of some of these dishes,
when dinner was over would have given
a gold mine In Mashonaland for q quarter
of an hour ut the Amphytrion. On the
second day We reached Klerksdorp and
were within the limits of the auriferous
portion of the Transvaal Klerksdorp is
in state of decay, having had but an
ephemeral existence 1t sprang into life
during the 00ld MINING honu, of for1r
years ago. The ground all round it for a
considerable space was hastily pegged off
in mining claims, companies were fioated
with large capital, shares were tossed up
TO premium just as Japanese conjurer
with a fan causes bits of paper to ascend
in the air. and then came the crash. All
was over, and large, pretentious stock
exchange, tenanted now only by the dog,
the cat. the pig and the fowl, tells the in
teresting story ofan African golden dream.
There are, however, one or two mines IN
the neighborhood which may possibly
with skllful management yield some profit
TO the shareholders-wheret the ore is plen-
tiful, though OF low grade. One of these,
the Buffelsdorn. about ten miles from
kIersdorp, we were able to make a thor
ough inspection of. 1t is being skilfully
and economically worked, possessing
reef from three to four feet in thickness,
yielding on an average about seven penny
weights to the ton; is not over capitalized
and has much about it which led those
who were with me and who were expe-
rieneed authorities to suppose that before
long 1t may be a fairly profitable mining
venture. klerksdorp can also boast of a
hotel Of considerable size, the landlord of
which-a German-may be celebrated for
his insoence and mis- rapaeity, whose
guests are tormented with excessive dirt
snd discomfort.
A short drive of about five hours brought
Us on the following day TO Potchefstrom,
most attractive little town. 1t lies in
boil Of Ill -, ..kt I, r.. =
some low hills, fairly covered with planta-
tons. The houses are surrounded by
luxuriant gardens and the streets are
lined with handsome trees. The sight of
tree or bit of green in the treeless and
burned up veldt gives pleasure and relief
alike 10 the mind and the eve Here a
clean and comfortable hotel and an oblig-
ing host enabled us TO forget the vexa-
tons and annoyanees of Kerksdorp
Johannesburg was reached on the evening
Of the fourth day. We found ourselves at
once IN a society and amid surroundings
widely different from any which had been
experienced since landing in Africa.
johannesburg extends for a considerable
distance along a ridge of hills 5000
feet above the level of the sea-
Around wherever the eye reposes it is
arrested by mining shafts, hauling gear,
engine houses and tall cbimneys, johann
nisburg presents very English appear
anle, the appearance of an English manu-
featuring town, minus its noise. smoke
AuQ dlrt. The streets are crowded with
the busy, busting, active, keen, intelli-
gent looking throng. Here are gathered
human beings from every quarter of the
globe the English possessing an immense
predominance. The buildings and general
architecture OF the town attain an excel
lent standard, style having been consulted
and sought after, stone and brick being
the materials, corrugated iron being con-
lined TO the roofs, soidity, permanence
and progress being the general character
istlcs.
The creation aud rise of this town has
been almost magical, period OF less than
i've years having been sufficient TO effect
it. When IL Is remembered that some
twenty millions of capital mainly Eng
hsh, have been sunk in the mines of the
Randi, and that about SlS0oo00 an
nually is expended on the maintenance
and exploitation Of the mines one is con-
frmed in the belief that there is nothing
that money cannot do. The bright DAYS
which marked the discovery of the gold
mines and the infancy of Johannesburg
have passed away. The twenty millions
81 capital, at one time inflated 10 nearly
forty millions, are now reduced 10 nearer
four millions. The London stock exchange
has become callous and insensihle 10 the
attractions of rich reefs and newly dis
covered deep levels, and the inhabitants
many of whom have undergone the bit
terest experiences OF the strangest vicissi-
Ndes have aspect 10 some extent Of
doubt, nervousness and an iety. wonder
ing when the long period of inactlon and
stagnAtion, lasting for more than two
years, will come 10 an end, and when their
former golden hours will return.
do not think there is any necessity for
any doubt, care or anxiety. Facts speak