Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/272

212 SOUTH AND EAST AFEICA. entirely suspended by the ware with the natives, ruinous speculations, and the political troubles brought about by the British occupation. Nor were the English themselves very zealous for the construction of this line, fearing that it might have the effect of diverting from Natal and Cape Colony the whole of the foreign trade of the South African Republic. Hence fresh funds must now be raised in order to complete this great work, which is essential for the material prosperity of the land. Topography of the Transvaal. The southern strip of territory skirting the frontier of the Orange Free State still lies within the Vaal basin. The little town of Sfanderton, near the coal mines about the sources of the river, and Heidelberg, situated more to the west at the foot of Jeannette Peak (6,300 feet), both lie in the highland district where the orange will not bloom, as in most other parts of the Transvaal, where a sub- tropical climate prevails. Potchefiitroom, some 90 miles still farther west, on the Iklooi, or " Fair River," a small affluent of the Vaal, already enjoys a much warmer temperature, although still standing at an elevation of 4,300 feet. In the surrounding district maize and tobacco thrive well. Potchefstroom, which during the early period was the capital of the Transvaal, and which continued to be the most populous town in the republic long after the seat of government was removed to Pretoria, is a very agreeable place of residence. The streets are lined with weeping willows, said to have been originally introduced from St. Helena, and all the surrounding gardens are enclosed by quickset hedges where blooms the rose. Owing to the profusion of blooming plants, most of the Transvaal towns present a charming aspect during the flowering season. The Mooi River, which springs from a cavernous limestone rock, disappears at several points along its course, again emerging in the recesses of underground grottoes, one of which, the Wonder-fontein, recalls the marvellous spectacle presented by the analogous formations in Carniola, The present capital of the republic, named Pretoria in honour of its President, Pretorius, lies at an elevation of 4,500 feet, on a gently sloping plain, everywhere encircled by hills except towards the north, where the Magalies, or ** Black Rhinoceros Range," is pierced by a gorge giving egress to one of the headstreams of the Limpopo. The Apies, as this headstream is called, collects in a single channel several rivulets which after traversing the town serve to irrigate the neighbouring gardens. Originally laid out on an ambitious scale, with boulevards and streets crossing each other at right angles, Pretoria long remained in a state of transition between town and country, presenting somewhat the aspect of a large garden relieved here and there with a few groups of low buildings. But since it has become a j^ace of resort for the miners proceeding to the northern gold fields it has put on the appearance of a busy mart. Houses are already crowded together in the central quarter, and large numbers are attracted to the markets, while the sedentary population exceeded six thousand in 1887. A few patches of the primeval forest still survive on the surrounding slopes, and at one