Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-22
Mistellaneul1s Rrading.
EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD
Victoria Falls In Northwest Rhodesia,
An AWe.lnspirina Sight.

An Awe-lnspiring Sight.
If there is one thing more than an
other which characterizes the present
age it is the enormous and ever in
creasing facility for travel, and, avail
ing himself of this, the globe trotter
is everywhere in evidence in his search
for something sensational and novel.
To those possessed of the tourist craze,
desirous of swerving from the beaten
track and-while courting adventure
and excitement-not Indifferent to
comfort en- route, may I venture to
Recommend a trip to the renowned Vic
toria Falls in Northwest Rhodesia,
justly designated the eighth wonder Of
the world? Their native name is
Mosi-oa-t -tunya, signifying water that
smokes" suggested by the vast volume
of spray and mist arising from this
phenomenal and awe-inspiring catar-
act on the great Zambesi river Of South
Africa.
There Is something intensely roman
tic in being able to leave England and
in three weeks time find yourself
where in 1855 that self-reliant explor-
er, DIR. Livingstone, stood gazing upon
this view Of overwhelming grandeur.
The tree on which he cut his initials
is still pointed out, and in his book,
Travels in South Africa" he remarks
with becoming modesty: This is the
only instance in which 1 indulged in
this piece of vanity" Fifty-five years
have sped by and today, almost close
by this self-same spot, Is a large up
to- date hotel, with electric light, mod
.efn sanitary arrangements and unlim-
f1ted opportunity for the qualification of
the most epicurean tastes.
\ The writer having recently made an
excursion to the falls, 1,640 miles to the
northwest Of Capetown, few frag-
mentary "reminiscences may be of in
terest to your readers and possibly cad
them to indulge in a like experience.
If we assume that the traveller has
arrived in Table bay by one Of the Un-
ion Castle company's palatial steamers,
Which perform the voyage with almost
clockwork regularity in a little over
sixteen days, he will find awaiting him
at the Capetown docks train de luxe
ready to whirl him away northward
~, tan IN ~
day land him at the Victoria Falls
station. For ease, comfort and general
appointments these trains could hardly
be surpassed on an English or conti-
mental railway. In the matter of eat
ing, sleeping, attendance, the accom-
modation is excellent; you can procure
a book from the library, ice for your
wine and switch on the electric cur
rent at pleasure. The journey itself
il certainly not devoid Of interest, and
akfew items may be enumerated. The
railway, for instance, skirts the battle
fields of Magersfontein, Belmont and
lraspan, and two memorials, the
Scandinavian and that in honor OF the
Highland brigade, are plainly visible
from the train. Then Modder river is
crossed, where was fought one of the
fiercest engagements in the Boer war.
Thirty-six hours from Capetown Is
Kimberley, the great diamond center,
where g ty years ago only some scat
tel ed thorn trees and wandering BUSH
men were to be seen. 1t is now sub
stantial, thriving township, with an ap-
proximate population Of $4,000. Some
thing over 200 miles farther on is
Mafeking of historic note, also flour
ishing trading center To the north OF
this again is a place called Crocodile
Pools, adjacent to the Transvaal bor-
der, where Colonel Plumer's relief
force was held at bay by the Beers for
a considerable time. At Mochudi the
railway enters upon the eastern fringe
of the Kalahari desert, which is ira
versed for about 200 miles. Palapye
is in the neighborhood Of the great
chief Khama's capital, containing no
fewer than 10000 inhabitants, all un-
der excellent discipline and regulations.
Shortly before reaching Bulawayo
the Matopos are visible in the distance,
where repose the remains of Cecil
Rhodes in a grave chseled out Of a
granite kopje and sealed with a huge
slab of the same stone. In this vicinity
also are inferred the bodies of Alan
Wilson and his party, whose memora-
BILE stand on the Shangani river is one
of the thrilling episodes of the con-
quest Of the territory. Government
house in Bulawayo is handsome edi-
flee, built on the site of what was orig
inally Lobengula's krail. After leav-
ing here there is a significant change
in the nature and character of the
scenery. Mile after mile one passes
through dense forests of teak, mahog-
any, mapani and other fine timbers, af-
fording cover for lions, tigers, ele-
plants, giraffes and other descriptions
of large game. AS affording an in
stance of the novel experience which
one may look for in this region, few
days before l passed over the line the
locomotive collded with a large ele-
phant, the former, with several trucks,
being derailed. A herd of these ami
mails happened to be standing on the
rails, and the victim had three of it's
legs broken. Before it was dispatched
thirty-six bullets were fired into it. A
number of natives were on the train
and they went half crazy over the car
cass, cutting it up into huge Jumps and