A SOUTH AFRICAN TROPHY.
THE EAR INTERIOR.
CHAPTEK I.
DARTMOUTH TO THE DIAMOND FIELDS.
Hopes of “ Golden Africa"—Influence of old writers—My early dreams
of travel—On board the Drummond Castle—Madeira—Curiosities of
the wine trade—Madeira as a health resort—St. Helena—Africa at
? last!—Cape Town—Telegraphing to the interior:—Hews of the hunters
I —Mr. Selous—Happy days at Wynberg—Objections to my plan—Dr.
Holub’s expedition—An odd and dangerous landing—A tremendous
' explosion—Description of Port Elizabeth—Northward ho!—“ Bad luck
f to the man that dhrove it 1 ”—Colesberg railway terminus—145 miles
| in a Cape cart—Arrival at Kimberley—The Diamond Fields—The
mining fever—Hard times—Kimberley Mine—Description of mining
; and mining gear—Restrictions on diamond trade—Kaffir workers—A
■ contested election.
¡Among some fugitive writings of Thackeray’s which have
lately been embodied in a volume, most readers doubtless
¡will have observed the following lines :—
“ Desolate Afric 1 thou art lovely yet 1
One heart yet beats which ne’er shall thee forget.
What though thy maidens are a blackish brown,
Does virtue dwell in whiter breasts alone ?
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!
It shall not, must not, cannot e’er be so.
The day shall come when Albion’s self shall feel
Stem Afric’s wrath, and writhe ’neath Afric’s steel.
I see the tribes the hill of glory mount,
And sell their sugars on their own account 1
While round her throne the prostrate nations come,
Sue for her rice and barter for her rum.’’ I V°L-1 R
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