Abilene weekly reflector., 1919-05-29
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4 ACROSS DARK CONTINENT 4
a By A. Z. Martin. 4
l. 2
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BY A. E. Martin.

the following story Of his trip Of
3755 miles across Africa)
We started from Cape Town, a 6ne
city Of 100000, a most picturesque
and beautiful place
Leaving this fair spcck on the map
of Africa. In our rear, we, Mrs
Martin myself and little son, found
ourselves on the Rhodeslan express.
heading northwards into the inter
minable interior, on June 3, 1918.
The train was in many respects,
more comfortable for very long
journey. like ours, more comfortable
than even an American Pullman by
an extra tip to the conductor had
provided for our own use an entire
compartment Intended for ski.
Speeding northwards at the alarm
ing speed Of an average Of about 20,
miles per hour we were somewhat
apprehensive lest our little son might
peradventure, become Of age ere we
should arrive, and yet all went
smoothly an dafter a run Of nearly
two days and one night, we reached
Kimberly of diamond fame
Here we had a welcome stop Of
four hours As we had written ahead
we were agreeably surprised to meet
one of wife's numerous cousins at the
station, waiting for us with a car.
lie took us Immediately out 10 the
diamond mines-by all comparisons
the greatest in the world These
were very interesting indeed. saw
what is declared to be the greatest
hole in the ground" ever made by
man, the Kimberly mine, owned by
the DeBeers Co.
1t is 1900 feet deep in an open
working and so wide across the top,
/ have seen nothing to hold it" ex-
cept the crater of Vesuvius. at
Naples, Italy. ] saw, and learned
something of the process of diamond
mining and 1t was highly interesting
but my fellow Abileneites will be
more interested in the great monu-
ment that ornaments Kimberly's most
attractive plaza. 1t is of red Rhode
sian sandstone and on its east side
there stands in bronze the figure of
a typical American-and American
he was to the grain.
On a bronze tablet is engraved his
name and achievement. This behind
him on the monument, but in front
of him stands a big, nicely made six
inch cannon--a rified breech loader
This huge gun, carriage and all, were
made by this American, in ordinary
machine shops, during the siege of
Kimberly during the British Boer
war. The British regarded his
achievement so marvellous that in
gratitude of his act, they have de-
voted whole side Of the monument
to him, and yet such are we humans,
| cannot recall his name now.
Leaving Kimberly at p. M, we
were again on our way towards the
ever distant north. The following
morning found our train pursuing its
snail pace thru the Kalahari Desert
"a great treeless plain, such as only
New Mexico can show. Another rea-
son for their unwelcome existance
for, had we not New Mexico we
should be shy a state of desert. But
New Mexico has minerals and metals.
SO far nothing but sand and gravel
have been found in the Kalahari.
Northwards we do move, tho at
times we had to assure ourselves of
the fact by taking not of the pecu-
liar shape Of the hills, whether or
not they really were not the same
we supposed we had passed an hour
before
But all things end and so, even
tually does six day rail journey !
But not to anticipate too freely, at
a. M, the fourth day we had al
ready arrived at Buluwayo, the CAPT
tai of Southern Rhodesia. All the
way thither we had come thru sand
and mainly desert. Sometimes all
the train windows had to be shut
tight because of the drifting sand,
and they told us this was the best
time of year too. But before reach
ing BuluwayO 1--WE had travelled all
night, hence, I cannot say how far
before) the country becomes quite
nice. The surface is rolling, with
here and there an attempt at a noun
tain, but nothing really serious in
that line is seen.
Buluwayo is also, something of
mining center. There are very rich
gold mines tributary to the towns
supply influence, and it has almost
an metropolitan air about it in some
respects.
One is agreeably surprised over
the very fine buildings. Stores are
modern and very up-to- date indeed
In some respects surprising many al