St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-05-06
From Pretoria to London via Cairo.
The Quincy from Pretoria 10 Waterfall
Ouder,

The Journey from Pretoria TO Warerva
Ouder.
1.-THE following is the first in series of let
tiers which Mrs. Gray is writing the GALE
DOMAIN, but was not received In st. Johnsbury
until after the publication of the letter which
appeared in our issue of April 22 which was
the second in the series
Editor CALIFORNIAN
Knowing the kindly interest which
friends of your town and county take in
those who were once among you and
have now wandered far a6eld, venture
to send toyoa a wjottings OF a journey
taken via the east coast route from Pre-
toria, in the Transvaal, to London by
way of Cairo. We lett Pretoria on
March II, day of many anniversaries
On that day my husband first entered
the ministry; on that day he was Undue.
ed as minister into his first parish in
| Wooler, Northum berland; on that day
he became minister in his second parish
in Harrismith, Orange River Colony, and
on that day we started our home life in
Pretoria in 1890, and he was established
in his church there. Now, on his semi
jubilee he has had delightful greeting
from his fellow ministers, a full and gen.
erous reception and farewell from his
church people, and purse of sovereigns,
and kind and hearty 'send-off," as in
the interest Of Presbyterianism and as
moderator of the general assembly of
South Africa he has been chosen delegate
to the English, Scottish and Irish Assem-.
blies in London, Edinburgh and Dublin.
The gathering in our church on the
evening of the 18th was as de-
lightiul as lovely flowers, graceful ferns,
beautiful and patriotic Scotch draperies
could make it, and loving hearts and
kindly faces surrounded u.s. 1t was hard
to kiss the dear, sweet. unconscious,
sleeping boy of four years in his cot, and
to say Goodbye" to the brave-hearted
little girls at the station, but they shed
not tear-in their determination to
have all bright and CHEEKY. A crowd of
kind friends gathered at 10 O'Clock at
night, the train drew up, and a rousing
cheer was given as we steamed away
gazing as long as we could to the spot
where the little brown eyed and blue
eyed lassies were waving their hands.
Through the bewitching South African
moonlight we rode, passing homes where
bright lights burned and friendly flags
were waving; past the once busy and
now closed Hatterley dlstillery; past the
grave where the gallant Earl of Airlie
lies, lately visited by his beautiful, sor-
rowing widow; past Broukers Spruit,
where once Beers and English fought
and died; on over the long, waving prai-
rie-like vedt till we reached the highlands,
and the air grew cold and chill, and we
wrapped rugs and cloaks tightly about
us.
At Middlebury coaches came to take
passengers to distant homes, and steam
ing cups of coffee were handed out at the
station, as men and women walked
about IN the crisp, fresh, early morning
air. Then we went on and on till at
daylight we came to quickly growing
town, named after Col Machado, Por-
tuguese railway Spectator and bearing
the name OF Machadodorp, pronounced
Ma shah do-dorp). Here were huge coils
OF American barbed wire for fencing,
cases OF soap, candles, condensed milk,
tins OF salmon, boxes of furniture, gro
ceres, and all sorts of supplies. This
place is the one to which the gold fields
of Leydenburg Pilgrims Rest, and many
other mines and small towns must send
for all their goods. AS yet no branch
lines have been erected.
Hitherto we have been travelling on
the broad, open, treeless, rolling weld,
where every mile looks like the last
Now we are coming to new phases OF
the Transvaal, going down from the
highlands to the lower slopes connecting
US with Portuguese territory. After
Machadodorp we reach Waterfall Roven
or above and then follow the picturesque
Waterfall River down to Waterfall
Ouder, or below. Down by a rachel
railway, with two engines with cogs,
descending picturesque gorge, and
going through magnificent tropical seen.
cry, green with ferns, palms, euphorbia
aloes, long thatch grass, leaving grand
caste,lated mountains high above us,
winding down steep, precipitous banks;
down, down into the gorge, easily and
safely, enjoying the skillful engineering
and the varied views; the cloud. capped
peaks, the cliffs, the winding stream, the
pretty rivulets below, the wild and lovely
flowers on every hand. At last we come
to Waterfall Ouder or Nude" and sit
down in the little station to a good
breakfast while voluble French waiter,
in shrillv dice, shouts out to the two
native boys serving, instruction enough
to daze even their placid minds.
More anon,
MARY w, GRAY,