New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
\ TRANSVAAL LOTOSLAND
TIE LIFE OF THE INCIDENT HAPPY
Go-LCCkI JEWELLERS OF MAGA-
TO'S COUNTRY.
From Chambcrs's Jarrll.

From Chambcrss JarnlI.
III tho extreme northcasicrly corner OF The
!!A"Srai! Les one OF ttc icast-known portions
% south Africa spot unlike the rest %! the
rri t'ic that he few travellers wh" str'Hr It in
Nii ldDiE grow enthusiasts OV"r its charms.
Nature has done its best 90 prcSrry' intoCt
ron The INVASION Of the white man the solitud"S
81 this vcrd"nt district. It IS difficult Oi access.
The roads beng rGcrc 0X-tyacxS that tine FIRST
!f'.n ~ summer cfac"3 altogether nr p!"ui-hs
INTO III" bed OF - torrent. Dcadiy malaria Turks
III ne alleys and along tho banks Of tn" Linn
l'o!o, that FORMS IFS northern boundary. the
tactSe-ny kills OF the horses OF tho traveller.
whom the natives are not eager 10 be-
Trend u a'Sist-for tn" late chief. Mlsato. inoc-
uia;,-i MS subjects with virus Of suspicion
which renders them proof against the ovcrturrs
IF tie concession hunting gold pr,spcctor in
whom iho% 60" only dangerous ana subtle en-
envy of til" country.
Although Under the protection Of thc Trans
Naai Government. the natives If this district are
practically as Independent in the days before
the voortrckker had been seen. They nave n"N0r
beer conquered b. the B""rs. and the ind
p"ndclCc - She nation has beer SOlidiiiCd Iy ~"
late chief, Magatp As diplomatic and 1Dlr a
monarch as ever occupied 4 king s krdll. 1t has
passed into history now ne dc fled the Ho"r com
mand.tn'. the redoubtabe General JoubcIt when
Ia" Vas sent To collect arrears of hut tax.
You are not Panl Kruger" h. said. You
ar" only his scrTant. II he wants To talk - me-
let your master coma himself And IN" hut
tax has remained urc)llcctod 70 this day. tDr the
H""rS have always shirkrd an encounter N!;h
IN th"r native Businesses. Thus i comes that
MaEato's country has lain in undisturl'od scren-
itY, known perhaps TO not more than a couple ~
hundred white men. including handful Of trad
crs and REFUSES Who lilIt the yOyIErys - the
islands of me iotcs-eatcrs. have fallen under
the pe 'uar spell OF this delightful earthly
paradise. Having by some strange forum" sur
vived its climatic dangers. they live lives % Ian
guild Incidence. well content to fOrSwcar the
oy"rrated charms of civilization for the lciSurrd
case Of this primitive existence. Among them
e .I hirFh md llti u nB l.lN
tasted the suppOsititious sweets Of the advanced
intellectual culture % the older world. yet choose
TO remain in this land % Black skins and sunny
skies, where a strange white face appears with
the erratic and transient uncertainty ~
meteor. and The faint echoes Of the surge Of the
cities are borne by tardy newspaper or n raTcT
letter at intervals rcCkOned by moons.
OF the circumstances that led these dw"!"fs in
the sotudes 10 fOrego their share Of the heritage
Of the ages many strange stories might bc writ
ten. but il would he CaS.er 70 raise the hidden
gold that is said to abound in the country than
70 extract the story II their past from som" Of
these hermits one or tHO have taken Il inc me
as the outcome II 1 spirit Df true philosophy or
in disgust at the world for which they were
originally intended. Others strayed thithcr after
aimlcsS wandering over IN" Continent ana set
ted down 10 the fun enjoyment Of a life OF
peaceful rest that amply compensaicS ior III"
trials Of bygOne years \ few. attracted hy me
possibilities Of speedily acquiring wcaIth - sup
plying the wants Of the natives. nave opened
stores Us the pleasure ana VIII OF the paramount
chief-withou which no white man can occupy
land Having made money in the cOurS" or
years they are now unable to shake OF TN" nab
its and tastes that time has cngraftci. 50 they
remain lords Of az much OF the earth a they
wish to poss IS having uncOnsciouSlN learned
that true happiness consists in contentm"nt
Such labor as may d. required costs but The
price Of the least valued article in the store; but
the native pays his employer in English gold for
tbs. axe or spade with which he performs his
Labor In a country where the necessities " life
are obtainaDh- with the minimum Of effort 1t Is
not surprising to find the white Inhabitants the
victims Of a mental and physical Incidence hard
fnr one fresh from scenes If activity to appre-
ciatc II is difficult - realize the frame of mind
of such a one Whp. though ardcnty curious to
see the electric light. OF which h. has only 'tad
shirks tn" thrpe-hUndred- journey IN johann
nesburg because it will interrupt his daily nab
its. There are educated white men residing