The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-24

IL ~ last stronghold OF the Beers
when compelled tn abandon
Pretoria after defeat in the field. but
hitherto hardly anything has been known
about the country and Its capabilities for
defense
officiaiiy the district lie known as the
Loutpansberg. but II II more commonly
called MaEatoland. after the ehief OF the
Makatese tribe, which inha bii,ed II up To
lsss. until when IL was almost unknown
20 the Beers themselves. A South ART
can correspondent. describing the coun-
try, says II IS likely TO receive attention
IN the near future. for Il Is in Its fast
nesses that the Beers viii make their
last stand. Swaziland aud Lydcnhurg
have been spoken OF rs the scene OF their
Anal resistance. but among the burKhers
themselves Magatoland h considered an
Ideal retreat. II has two back doors, 81
TO say. one across the i.impopo In Mash
onaland. and the other through the Por-
tnguase territory on the east,
Tho whole country is one great series
Of natural fortresses standing amid
dense vegetation. IN which a commando
could remain concealed for "a week II
necessary without fear of discovery, II
IL about 80 miles north Of Pretoria. OF
which some giA miles can DO traversed by
rail 60 Petersburg From there to Louis
Tfichardi, founded a year ago as the
capital of Magatpiand - eighty miles,
the road after the FIRST twenty, running
through deuse bush and Offering many
dlficulties 10 an invading force,
Masasolsnd was practically unknown 60
the Beers until the beginning Of the last
year. when they assumed occupation
after the defeat Of NJ refu hy Gen. Jou.
bert II was the experience then gained
Of the country by the burghtrs ~ tho
eommandos composing the Boer army
that arst gave them the idea ~ making
II their last resort IN the event ~ inva-
sion by the British, No regular survey ~
The district has ever been made but
roughly speaking tho towering krantHcs
That CruNn the Enutpans range and over
look I.ouis Trichardt and the Klein spell
euken extend some sixty miles 60 the
berth and 70 the territory 81 the Sewaas
ana Nnobucusen KafHrs on the south
viewed from Fort Schrutte, Tor many
YEAR, the BoeFs' advanced pos,
The MaRato range elevated high above
the clouds has a meet imposing appear
encf Rising from the plain IN terraces
for about three miles the summit ~ the
taaEe IS formed Il mighty overhauE
ag krsu'a - volcanic rNc& extending
sheer tH feet TNts exteodS with few
erraks tho whole length ~ ,he ranse. and
absolutely unScalab'c Only ore road
enters she country az Mteato's Hoofstad
In dlrett lire This road h covered hv
rrcently crested fort srd 40 whitening
ard steep is the track that q cculd he
heli BY single comm ndc against an
eNorw hclnirg force. The mountain Slope
u covered With forrest rnsnv ~ The treos
rroWing to seventy feet in height. Their
ARE tWo other YAsNe~ into the Interior 90
The country ore fourteen miles northeast
Of lou.s Trichsrdt. and PisanEkop, TWEEN
y mile. southwest
on ihc mountains there IS an abundant
supply ~ water and. unless they have
been rccently removed. enormous supplies
81 food rhf climate IS healthful and
eonaparattvoly cool. hut In the valleys
d1rsns the fever season Il Is little Snort
Of pestlentnI No doubt the nurSsFr'
count on this in the event OF the British
following them and sncamping In the
pwars valley for any lehgth az time oS-
FORE trying 20 scale the MasAto heights
TheIr ranks would b. deciunaied by a
desdlier enemy than the Msuser bullet.
Tho maiarial fog rolls up from the river