The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29

the eyes M we'll a. through the mind; but
the book was "made in England" though
prepared in South Africa, 30 nothing can
be predicated upon its appearance.
Between Europe and America and South
and East Africa there are eleven regular
lines of steamships; six lines run from
England, two from this country Though
both are English lincs), one line from Hol.
land, and two lines from France. The
freight rates by these eleven lines are
set forth in detail in the Guide, with
notes showing various local rates and Gus.
toms. For instance, first-class freight for
johannesburg sent direct from this coun.
try to Delagoa Bay pays GO shillings q ton
Of 40 cubic feet; but that $40 a ton does
not include the landing charges for ICON.
veyance Of general cargo from ships side
and delivery into railway trucks,"7 shil.
lings and Q pence and 10 per cent. extra
are collected. Delagoa Bay, In fact, Is
about the only port where goods are landed
free from the ships side. 1t is very evil
lent from these facts that the civilization
OF South and East Africa has not reached
its development yet.
In 1856 the Orange Free State and
the Cane Colony agreed on n Customs
Union, which was revised in terms in June
OF this year. Some of the items In this
convention are interesting as indicating
the point reached in the civilization Of
the country. Beads, known as Kaflr
beads are dutiable at 8 pence a
pound 90, too, are blasting compounds ;
preserved meats pay the same duty gun
pay 90 shilllngs and 10 per cent. each;
revolvers, only 8 shillings each. Many
articles come In FREQ of duty, most Of them
Of the kinds needed In new countries; on
some others a duty of 0 per cent is charged,
while on articles of luxury q rate of 20
per cent. is collected. The Natal customs
tariff is rather lower in its rates, but
there Is a transit duty on most
goods destined for the Transvaal republic.
The Suns oft-repeated statement that the
United States is the greatest free trade
country in the world is emphasized anew
by this Guide; for, except for the Customs
Union between Cape Colony and the Orange
Free State, each separate colony and State
has its separate tariff, and though rebates
are given on goods imported in transit,
they do not amount to the charges made
originally.
The Importance Of the Transvaal to
South African enterprise is shown by the
space given to the tariff OF that country.
The full act of "the HONORABLE the First
Rad" is set forth and then follows an an
rotated alphabetical list of the articles,
with the duty, either regular or special, to
which each article is liable. The large
amount Of space given to details Of railway
charges is not the least interesting thing in
the Guide, though the charges and classif-
cations are m%onotonous. To see such
names as Mafeking and Palapwe with
railway rates quoted against them, to see
crates to stations in B~echuanaland," to see
the rates charged on the Delagoa Bay Rail
way, impresses on ones mind that in spite
of small details, the great African country
is being opened. that Darkest Africa is
seeing light, that the light it sees is
that Of an engines lantern, and that the
world is getting smaller. Think of being
able to arrange in New York TO send freight
200 miles and more into the Dark Con-
tinent of knowing here what the freight
Is by steamer, by railway; what the wharf
charges and what the duties are and then
remember the process of shipment not more
than ten years ago.
From Cape Town the western system Of
the Cape Government railway extends to
Palapwe, more han LOO miles inland;
the Midland system extends to Pretoria,
TAI miles from Port Elizabeth; the East
ern system covers 315 miles. In Natal the
Government railway ruDo to Pretoria, 5l1
miles away, while the Netherlands South
African Company maintains a line 400
miles long, from Lorenzo Marquee to
johannesburg. The Beira Company's
road is not finished yet, but extends
more than 200 miles inland from
Beira to Umtali. Not far In the future
excursion trains will run to the Vic
toria falls; already the locomotives whis-
tie Is heard on the Limpopo. Griqualand
West Is far to the south Of the railway ter.
minals, and it is only a short time before
Matabeleland and M%ashonaland shall hear
the noise of trains.