THE TRANSVAAL, OR SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
By S. N. H.
This country is the northern extent of territory occupied by the Dutch, and, as we intimated in a previous article, it ever will be their northern boundary. Their settling in this country was on this wise: In 1845 the Boers of Orange Free State undertook to exterminate the Griquas, a powerful tribe of natives, but England interfered and united the territory of the Griquas and also that of the Boers to her dominions. A number of Boers, seeing themselves once more under the dominion of the English, packed up, crossed the Vaal River, and settled in a new country, calling it the Transvaal, and soon founded a new republic. In 1853 the English, fearing they would not be able to retain all of their territory, which was fast increasing on their hands, allowed the people of the Orange Free State to proclaim afresh their independence. In 1877 the Dutch settlers in the Transvaal undertook to exterminate the natives from the territory which they had taken, but England again interfered, conquered them, and annexed them to her territory. Everything seemed lost to the Boers, for it was useless to go farther north. Their only hope was to regain their independence, and that by the sword. It is reported, although I have never seen it in print, that they solemnly devoted their country to God, if he would help them defeat the English and recover it. In 1880 they revolted, and defeated the English at Majuba Hill, after having killed the English general, Sir Pomeroy Coddey. On the 25th of October, 1881, the Transvaal was declared free, but under the protectorate of England. Three years later, however, the English wholly retired from the Transvaal. “The South African republic, like the Orange Free State, lies entirely inland, and nowhere touches the sea; but in other respects it has natural advantages superior to any other portion of colonized South Africa. Throughout its wide area, estimated at 113,642 square miles, the greater part of its surface11consists of rich, grassy pasturage, and well-watered, fertile soils, while embedded in its rocky formations is an almost illimitable supply of mineral wealth. The southern and eastern parts of the republic are at an elevation of 4,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level, and known by the name of the Hoogeveld, or high country. On the edges of this plateau the land breaks off into lower hills and valleys, which is termed the Bankenveld, or terrace country. North and northeast of this, at a lower level, and enjoying a warmer temperature, is the Bushveld, or bush country, in some spots broken by a series of hills and covered by high grasses, bushes, and trees.” —Official Handbook of South Africa. According to the census of 1890, the total white population numbered 119,128. At the present time the entire population, including the natives, is reckoned at about 820,000 souls. The natives are estimated at 649,560. Here, as in other portions of South Africa, private capitalists and syndicates have in possession the richest tracts of land. One company, called the “Consolidated Land Company,” holds 2,341,560 acres. “And the extent held by other companies and individual capitalists may be stated at another two and a quarter million acres.”—Ib. The productiveness of the soil, both as to forest trees, fruit and shade trees, and fruits of various kinds, is almost fabulous. And yet, with all the productiveness of the soil, butter and cheese, condensed milk, fruits, etc., are imported from Holland, England, and other countries. The great and prominent industry of the republic is gold mining. It is said to possess the best gold mines in the world. For a number of years past it ranked third in the amount of gold taken from the mines. But considering the present output, it ranks first. These mines are in the vicinity of Johannesburg, and are all in the hands of rich companies. Johannesburg is the active commercial center of the republic, while the constitutional law recognizes Potchefstrom, situated on the Mooi River, as the capital, and Pretoria as the seat of government. Pretoria is 37 miles beyond Johannesburg, in an upland valley, containing 11,000 persons, about one-half colored, who have their allotted locations on the outskirts of the town. Here is the home of President Kruger. The town is beautifully laid out, with nice buildings, surrounded by the Witwatersberg hills, and is about 4,500 feet above sea level. Nestling among hedges of roses, with lines of willow and blue gum trees, is characteristic of South African towns, and Pretoria is not an exception. It has broad streets, intersecting each other at right angles, and streams of water coursing along at their sides. The exclusive right of constructing and working railway lines within the republic is granted to the Netherland and South African Railway Company, unless the government itself should consider it expedient to construct and work lines. The government buildings are Pretoria’s architectural glory. They have a frontage of 175 feet, a depth of 220 feet, and a height of 125 feet, to the top of the figure of liberty. They contain 136 rooms, and cost nearly $1,000,000. From this city the mail leaves twice a week for Bulawayo and Salisbury, the capitals of Matabeleland and Mashonaland. This is a route opened since the old Mafeking route. It requires but five days to go from here and stop nights. It is the nearest route. Teams are running from here almost continuously. Johannesburg was only a few tents and poorly built huts eight years ago, and building lots sold for ten shillings which now bring £10,000. It has grown from nothing to a city of 60,000 inhabitants, including the suburbs, and 80,000 embracing the mining country around it. In the center of the city are almost all the modern improvements, but the suburbs are without underground drains or sidewalks, and are poorly lighted. The whole aspect indicates a great, overgrown city. It is estimated by those who are supposed to know that one-half of the gold output is consumed in the city for drink and attendant evils. The country is governed by about one-third of the population; that is, two-thirds of the 80,000 are gold seekers and speculators. Rents are at fabulous prices, and everything else accordingly. The very atmosphere seems impregnated with vice. I was told that over 100 persons, officers and others, had come there in the interest of the Salvation Army, but had become bewildered with the prospect of getting rich, and are now among the vilest. I asked a Jew if he kept the Sabbath; he said that he did while in London, but no one could live his religion in this place. The manner of doing business is a test of a man’s integrity if he would succeed. Yet, notwithstanding this, beneath the rubbish there are those who fear God, and a few who meet regularly on the Sabbath to seek God and study his word. In all the cities I have visited in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, I never saw the like of this. It is a cosmopolitan town, where it seems that every nation is represented except Transvaalers themselves. It is a town raised up in the desert—no rivers, no roads, no trees, no means of transportation, no means of construction, for until less than three years ago there were no railroads connecting this oasis with the outer world. A recent writer thus describes the people:— “At present it is a gambling den, where you are blinded by dust (both dusty streets and gold dust), but need strictly to keep your eyes open. Alongside distinguished, serious, and most honorable people, you have a decidedly mixed and contraband society,—millionaires, broken-down swells, shoddy barons, financial gamblers, adventurers of all nations, German, French, English, Italian, Greek, Levantine, Jews by birth and by profession, living from hand to mouth, passing their lives between the hope of being millionaires and the fear of being bankrupt, pretty women, with painted cheeks and tinted hair, on the lookout for adventurers, dying of ennui, passing their lives in card playing, dining, and dancing, while the men are at the stock exchange, the club, or drinking and chatting with barmaids covered with rouge and diamonds, whose wages are £25 a month besides extras. Dwelling in the midst of these, I repeat, exists a colony of delightful people, who necessarily hold themselves aloof from this crowd—an aristocracy of manners, a choice set, composed of financiers, merchants, engineers, people such as one meets in the best cities of Europe, and of whom I have not spoken much, precisely because they differ in nothing from their fellows in any other community.” Such are some of the leading characteristics of the South African republic, the two leading cities, and the people.