(always to be met with wherever the soil is turned over for the first time), and the enormous cost of transport which the profit in gold mines did not cover, contributed to make progress very slow and arduous.

In spite of all drawbacks, however, the born traveller and determined explorer have not been discouraged, and many fresh discoveries have since been added to natural history, and the mysteries of hitherto unexplored lands have been revealed.

The ever watchful and hopeful investor is keen in recognising the value of such knowledge, and of turning it to profitable account. One sees to-day the result of his confidence and daring. With regard to the original discovery of the Witwatersrand Goldfields opinions differ.

Many contend that the honour is due to a Mr. Arnold, who found gold there in 1884, while others declare that it belongs to a Mr. Struben. So far as can be ascertained from South African history, gold was found in the years :—

1868. At Olifants River by Karl Mauch, also about the same time in Marico district (Malmani Goldfields, Plates I. and IX.).

1869. In the Sutherland Hills (Klein Letaba Goldfield) by E. Button.

1870. In the Murchison Range (Selatie Goldfields) by E. Button. A rush to these fields was made in 18881889.

1871. At Ersteling (Marabasstadt Goldfield) by E. Button. A rush was made here in 1872.

1871. At Mac-Mac and Spitz Kop.

1873. At Pilgrims' Rest.

1875. At Waterfall and Rotunda Creek.

Lydenburg
Goldfield.

1875. At the De Kaap Valley, but not worked till the rush

of 1882.

1881. In Swaziland by Mr. M'Lachlan.

1882. At Devil's Kantoor, ensuing in a boom.

1875-1882. At the Komati Goldfield, but only worked since

1885.

1884. At the Geldenhuis and Kromdrai Farms (Witwatersrand Goldfield), and about the same time gold was found near Heidelberg, Potchefstroom, and Klerksdorp.

There is ample evidence to show that the was known in this country in ancient times. Simbabi in Mashonaland are a proof of this.

existence of gold

The ruins of Much has been

PLATE I.-GOLDFIELDS (as indicated by the dotted areas). I. Witwatersrand. II. De Kaap. III. Lyden burg. IV. Zoutpansburg. V. Marabasstadt. VI. Malmani. VII. Vryheid.

HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLDFIELDS.

3

written, and many years of study bestowed by able archeologists and explorers on this subject.*

In a country containing such possibilities there must often be disastrous results owing to unwise speculation.

These, in the main, are attributable to the short sightedness of investors, who purchase or peg out valueless ground, go to unnecessary expense in putting up costly machinery without having anything worth milling, and employ large staffs of officials and workers, thus creating a heavy charge upon their return before quite realising whether the choice of ground is worth it; on the other hand, valuable properties suffer much injustice.

There are many properties that would pay well, if economically worked on a small scale. This would help greatly towards the forming of a solid goldfield, and give many chances to enterprising men with limited means.

The towns are indicated in Plate I. by the following numbers:-1, Pietersburg; 2, Barberton; 3, Lydenburg; 4, Belfast; 5, Carolina; 6, Ermelo; 7, Pretoria; 8, Boksburg; 9, Johannesburg; 10, Krugersdorp; 11, Rustenburg; 12, Zeerust; 13, Warm Baths; 14, Ersteling; 15 Potgieters Rust; 16, Marabasstadt; 17, Houtboschberg; 18, Hænertsburg; 19, Selatie; 20, Pilgrim's Rest; 21, Steynsdorp; 22, Bremersdorp; 23, Potchefstroom; 24, Klerksdorp; 25, Heidelberg; 26, Middelburg; 27, Vryheid.

* Ruins of Mashonaland, by Theodore Bent.

CHAPTER II.

GEOLOGY.

To understand all organic life one must closely and analytically study everything that appertains to it. So it is with the construction and constitution of the earth; its rocks and strata, with their organic fossils and inorganic contents; the successive changes these have undergone, and their causes.

In studying the physical aspect of South Africa, a country which shows so many varying altitudes, mountains, valleys, and plateaus, one has every opportunity of learning the nature of its geological formation. South Africa, in general, is divided into what is locally termed the High and Low Countries. It rises from the coast towards the interior in a succession of terraces.

In the low land-which is usually very unhealthy-are found many well-watered plains, consisting mostly of various gravelly soils and rocks, often showing many alluvial deposits. In some of these deposits, which have been brought in the course of time by floods from great distances, valuable metals have been found. Any such discovery is an incentive to prospectors to follow the indication to its original source (Fig. 1).

Following the rivers up to their sources, through picturesque scenery, we find that the mountains have pointed, rounded, or flat-shaped summits, while long ranges slope terrace-like to the river banks; and rocky plateaus with deeply-cleft ravines and mighty precipices meet the eye. Many dykes of diorite and greenstone, run across and along these mountains, tilting the strata from horizontal to inclined and vertical positions. For miles the granite, which is the foundation of the sedimentary rocks, is exposed on the surface, in places rising to a height of over 5000 feet above the sea level. Coming to the High Country (locally called "High Veldt") we find a more recent formation overlying the rocks of an older period, broken by little spruits or streams, which form on their way to the Low Country, deep kloofs, picturesque waterfalls, and rivers.