TO PRETORIA. 9 



accounting for the temperate climate of that inner 

 south-eastern portion of the continent. Scarcely a 

 living thing could be seen from the carriage windows, 

 the parched aspect of an African winter, which made 

 the wilderness look more forlorn, was qualified by the 

 clear light, the cloudless sky, and the pure dry but 

 invigorating atmosphere. This railway is the main 

 artery by which Natal carries on its large and increas- 

 ing trade with the Transvaal. It is but a few years 

 ago that Pietermaritzburg was the terminus, and from 

 thence wagon and coach were the only further .means of 

 transport ; then the iron w r ay reached Ladysmith, after- 

 wards pushed on to Biggarsberg, and at the time of our 

 journey extended to Newcastle*, which we reached 

 about midday. Biggarsberg particularly exhibits the 

 migratory nature of these small termini. At the time 

 when it represented though but for a short period 

 the railway boundary, a very fair hotel was erected, 

 large sheds were necessary to hold the merchandize that 

 continually arrived and waited for wagon transport, 

 whilst the neighbourhood became the residence of the 

 different transport agents. Possessing nothing in itself, 

 when the line extended to Newcastle, hotel, sheds, and 

 transport agents passed on, and Biggarsberg to-day is a 

 small village with a rather large railway station. New- 

 castle is in a different position, and although the 

 carrying trade is now transferred to Charlestown, it 

 possesses coal, and has a wool trade which will maintain 

 its already somewhat advanced development. 



It is singular to renew- the old coaching days of 

 England in South Africa, yet it is probable that the 

 nearest approach to that method of travelling is to be 

 found to-day in and near the Transvaal. AVe left New- 

 castle on a clear July Sunday noon, with a full load of 

 twelve passengers, extra luggage (for each passenger is 

 only allowed 28 Ib.f ), and the Natal mails, in a kind of 

 open break with a team of eight horses. Of regular 



* This was in ]890 ; in the spring of the year 1891 the line was opened for 

 traffic as far as Charlestown, and now reaches the confines of the Transvaal. 



t On my return journey by coach from Pretoria to Vryburg I was charged 

 7 extra for my trunk, although my personal passage was only 9 10s. 



