The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1894-06-28
FROM SOUTH HFRICH
Our Regular Correspondents
Interesting Letter.
LIGE BERGER0N MAKES A STRIKE
Jack Hartwell Writes EntertalnInsIy
of the characteristics of the Coun
try and OF the Customs or the
People Of the Transvaal Re
publlc-NO Placers There.

BARBERToN, S. A. r.. May 4, 1891
We are getting our winter now at this
end of the world and you can see by the
following that the winter is liable to be
severe was at a neighbours and was
talking Of building a galvanized iron
house. A young man advised me not to,
saying that it would be too cold for win
ter. told him he didn't know what
cold was. He said, "Don'tI? I've seen a
frost" and he went on to tell how he suf-
fered from cold the time he saw that
frost. The winter is just about the same
very short and no twilight at any time Of
the year. A few minutes after sundown
It is dark, and the same in the morning.
If one gets up at daylight he don't beat
the sun but little.
AS I get great many letters from
people who desire to come to Africa, I
guess l had better tell you all | know
about the country again. Most people
make inquiries about placer mining.
There are no placer mines around here
worth talking about, and none to be
found, for there is no gravel All the
streams run on bedrock They claim
there is good placer ia Matabeleland and
also in Mashonaland, but I can't say as
to that, but don't believe there ie.
Water is scarce up there, and in the
rainy season when there Is water to work
it one gets out and works IN it he is liza
bic to have the fever.
The farmers are gathering their corn.
1t would make a Missourian smile to see
them husk corn. The white people do
everything about the same as the Kaffirs
do. Their oxen draw with straight
stick across their necks, and it takes
eighteen of them to pull load that four
cattle would draw at home. The wagons
are clumsy things. A great many of
them come from Studbaker, South Bend,
Ind, but they are made especially for
this country. Nearly everything Ameri-
cans ship here is something that can't be
sold at home-that is, in the line of farm
implements The canned goods are all
right, and there is large assortment Of
canned beef and baking powder sent
here One of the most difficult things
to get is footwear. Boots one can't get
and shoes are very high priced and not
much good. A pair of working shoes
cost from el los to g2 and they are
heavy, clumsy things, and shoe very
similar to the U. S. army shoe (that is
sold all over the U. s. for S1) costs lbs
here, and 91 goes just as quick here as 81
does there. | think one can live as long
on dollar there and live better than
here on G1.
We see some queer things in the papers
here about America. [ saw in the Cape |
Argus that Colorado was about to secele
from the United States and be annexed
to Mexico, and If there is disaster of
any kind we get it magnified in great
shape, but that is the only news we get
from America. You spoke about wish
to see newspaper from this place. Well
went to the Herald office and saw the
editor and he said he would exchange
with you. I am we'll acquainted with
him and he is very nice sort of man
Tor printer The editors name is Mr..
John Eastwood. He is small man and
would need the assistance OF a gun to
'un a paper In mining camp at home;
but people are more peacable here, and
! paper does not employ a fighting editor.
Our rainy season is over and we will
aave five months of fine weather and
rom all appearances this district will
lake fresh start.
The Sheba has made rich strike. 1t
8 reported as being ninety feet wide;
'ock that runs two ounces in gold.
The railroad will soon be info Barber
ton.
Lige Burgeron is developing property
close to Barberton, but the company lost
he pay and it has laid idle for several
ears. Now they give Liye an interest
2 it to find the pay. It took him about
hree days to find it. They must have
'een blind when they lost it for it was in
claim sight, |,
Joe Carleton is still in Johannesburg,
'ut expect he will soon be over here as
mill work don't agree with him. The
constant noise is making him deaf.
There is not much of interest to write
bout just now, but when the Transyaal
axes possession of Swaziland I am
fraid things will get interesting. Bar I
,erton is on the SWazie frontier, and if ;
here should be any fighting Barberton
will get some. The Swazies are the
most powerful tribe in South Africa, and
hey hate the Dutch. Until now Swazie-
and has been under the JOINT protection
t England and the Transvaal, but now
is given to the Transvaal and the
latives say they will not be part of this
country. / don't know how 1t will come
ut, but it looks bad. Well, will close
or the present JACK HARTwELL.
Card of Thanks. i
I desire to aYnracc fhrourh rl,Yr h.rr