CHAPTER X.
PORT ELIZABETH AND GRAHAMSTOWN.
From Capetown I went on by sea to Port Elizabeth or
Algoa Bay, thus travelling from the Western to the Eastern
Province,—leaving the former when I had as yet seen but
little of its resources because it was needful that I should
make my tour through Natal and the Transvaal before the
rainy season had commenced.[1] The run is one which generally
occupies from thirty to forty hours, and was effected by
us under the excellent auspices of Captain Travers in something
but little in excess of the shorter period. It rained
during the whole of our little journey, so that one could
not get out upon the deck without a ducking;—which was
chiefly remarkable in that on shore every one was complaining
of drought and that for many weeks after my first
arrival in South Africa this useless rain at sea was the only
rain that I saw. Persons well instructed in their geography
will know that Algoa Bay and Port Elizabeth signify the
same seaport,—as one might say that a ship hailed from the
Clyde or from Glasgow. The Union Steam Ship Company
- ↑ It should be understood that the places described in the last three chapters were not visited till after my return from Natal, the Transvaal, the Diamond Fields, and the Orange Free State.
