The Portland daily press., 1896-06-20
THE TRAASVAAL.
The Land of the Beers and Its Re.
cent Experiences.
SOME IMPRESSIONS GATHERED
BY A RECENT ARRIVAL.

tertained by John Hays Hammond and
Other American Residents Tells Some
thing of What He Saw in the Land of
Dom aul.-The Natives and their Pc
culiarities.-Ata Zulu Dance.-Diamond
Mining.
| Despite the prominence into which
it has lately sprung, the Transvaal is to
many on this side of the Atlantic an
| unknown country and Johannesburg
an undiscovered city. Peculiar interest,
| 5ion of a recent visit there, as recorded
| by an obseryant naval officer, Passed
| Assistant Engineer W. Strother Smith.
| Mr.. Smith arrived in New York last
week on board the cruiser Newark. to
which vessel he Is attached. Prior to
her return to home waters the Newark,
which has been doing duty as flagship of
the South Atlantic station, paid visit
to Cape Town, Africa, for the purpose of
being placed In dry dock. While the ship
was lying there, says the New York
| Times, John Hays Hammond, the Ameri
clan who has recently been brought into
international prominence by his alleged
association with the Jameson raiders, in
vited the Newark's officers to make tour
OF the Transvaal, and with three other
Americans residing in Johannesburg pro-
vided special car for the convenience
of their guests. Including Mr.. Ham
mond those who acted as hosts were J.
4 hot nf oil
fornia, and e. A. Wiltsee of New York.
Eleven officers of the Newark accepted
the invitation. The trip is described by
Mr.. Smith as follows:
"After several days of preparation
and surm Use, the day and train were
| finally set. We started at O'Clock, and
soon were steaming across the fat coun-
try for the mountains that separate the
coast part from the 'Karoo, or fiat. tree
less tableland, of the Cape Colony. The
night was dark and rainy, so we sought
our hunks early and wrapped up warmly,
for we knew that we would have a cold
night ahead of US.
"Ws awoke early in the morning,
bright and lively, such Is the exhilarat-
Ing effect of the sharp, crisp air of the
veldt in the high district and were rave
nousiy hungry for the breakfast that was
soon served. For miles and miles around
us the country rolled away, high hills
"a tree-nothing but little scrub and
thorny bush; not sign of anything in
the way Of cultivation. However, as we
travelled on, we sighted now and then a
farm house, with a green patch around
t and large flock Of sheep grazing ON
} the heath or shrub that grows all over
the whole of South Africa.
~'As the sun rose higher it became
} quite warm, but the air was so clear and
J dry that it seemed quite cool. We ar
rived at the station of the Three Sisters
about D. m., and then began the heavy
climb to a higher tableland. 1t was
pretty stiff WORK for about thirty miles.
until we reached Biesjespoort. where we
sped over fairly level country again and
passed out Of the Karoo. This higher
! level is about an average height of 4, zoe
feet above the sea and about 1900 feet
higher than the one just below. There
, are more signs of cultivation, and the
, farms are more numerous. What mag
niflcent country this would be if it were
only watered and rained uponl Any.
: thing would flourish, the climate is mag
niticent and healthy, the soil is rich and
all it wants is irrigation and intelligent
management.
No n a and
plain surrounded by hills AS tie sur
! was setting, and the remarkable clearness
s and distinctness Of everything was es
3 peoially noticeable, the hills stood Out
with d sharp outline and the colors were
, bright and fresh looking. The twilight
: was very short, and soon darkness shu
everything fromH view. At p. m. W,
+ arrived at De Aar junction, where thu
8 cars for Kim berley are shunted off. Tit
Q train reached Bloemfonteln, the capita
of the Orange Free State, at breakfas
time. and we had a short time to get
glimpse of the place befors moving O,
our journey. The morning was brigh
and the sun shone clear, the air wa
fresh and cool and the town looked olsal
and healthy. They say that, even in tn
D hottest weather, the nights and morn
ings are always fresh and cool, the air i
dry but not parohing, and there is Away
q full supply of oxygen. The Orang
, Free State is comparatively level, with
, slightly rolling country rising higher a
= you go northward, the whole way from
the cape to Johannesburg being one con
tinuous rise, at the end of the journey
the elevation of 5, $50 feet above the SCI
is reached. The Free State is more oul
tivated, and there is an air of create
prosperity, but it Is not SO pleasant t.
look at from a car window; it is to-
much like prairie land.
"Just before dark we crossed the Baa
river and entered the Zuid Afrioanisch
Repu3liPk the South African Republic
commonly (called the Transyaal). Wha
a difference crossing river makes if yo
inter now oountryyl You are watches
at every turn by customs officials. AM
III.z - h. o+