Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-01-07
FROM THE LAND OF OPHIR.
Scenes Witnessed by an American Rover In
South Africa.

From King Solomon's mines to the Gold
en- Gate, from the great white road over
to the land of Ophir, to the streets of the
greatest city on the Pacific coast, is a
strange transition, yet ohrslopherr hon rvas *;
to tell the tale says the San Francisco
Chronicle He saw "A bullock team slowly
making its way down the great white road
toward the station called 1.-The Sisters"
just as many Il similar team had done in
centuries past. 1t is over this road that
Solomon is supposed to have shipped the
gold from the mines to the coast He was
all through the Matabele war. He was shot
right shoulder from an assegal; He was
forced to kill his horse to provide food for
the men. AT another time he gratefully
made meal of rats His adventures have
been thrilling indeed. He had an interview
with Lobengula in his kraal when the
king was surrounded with his induanas,or
Hobson is rover in every sense of the
word. His relatives are wealthy, but he
Time and again good openings have been
made for him, but in every instance he has
n the qe sta5sd m oa On ToMn Rs
when the Matabele war was in progress
and at once joined the troops of cavalry
organized by the chartered company. Ev-
cry man in the company was well edu-
Gated and well connected All dreamed of
glory and rapid promotion Few gave a
thought to the dangers and privations that
We're TO come They were placed under the
command of Colonel Pennefather, of tho
Mashonaland began: From Cape T%own % ITO to
Kimberly it was plain sailing, hut from
there to Mafeking, where the troops made
their headquarters during the war, the
men had n terrible time. on foot, by wag-
on, through deserts and swamps. they had
to march, and ii was weary lot of SOL
ders that finally went into camp in the
heart of Mashonaland
II had good position in Cape Town, but
like many, another, caught the war fever
and Joined the chartered company's cav
airy troop" said Hobson. II had been to
Kimberly ON visit and did not like the
place. II you We're not buyer or wash
er II was dangerous 10 be found with a
diamond in your possession in that coun-
ny II you could not prove your owner
ship 1t meant five long Years on the break
water, ana five years there is worse than
Botany Bay used 10 he. When i left the
place | hoped ] would never see 1t again,
but on our route TO Mafeking we had to
stop at the station in the diamond fields
and take up bullock wagons on the way
TO Kimberly we crossed the Karoo desert
ana at sunset we stopped at a station
called The Sisters a more beautiful
eled the world over, At our feet lay the
desert dotted here and there with a scrub
by growth OF brush. Away in the distance
could be seen range of mountains. made
purple by the rays of the setting sun In
to the right of them could be seen the
great white road described in Haggard's
story entitled King solomon's Mines
IhS then; thought !, Is the land of
psphiri the land from which Solomon
enrich the temple of Jerusalem. The
breasts stood out prominently and ths
white auartzlte formation shone like pol
ished marble marble. The nipples We're
upon. them a pink glow, emphasized the
peculiar aptness of the nameb "