PREFACE. XV 



As regards my dissertations on outstanding 

 disputes between the Imperial Government and the 

 Transvaal Autocrat, I can only hope they may give 

 effect to criticism, and thus draw public opinion. 



The notes on the prospects of the Chartered 

 Company's Territory (Rhodesia) may be read with 

 advantage by intending investors and settlers ; and 

 my opinion of the country is, shortly, that its 

 prosperity as a field for European immigrants is 

 dependent on the amount of its possible gold 

 output, but that from an African point of view, it 

 being a fairly well watered land, superior as regards 

 its capabilities for stock-raising and agriculture to 

 most other parts of South Africa, it will at no 

 distant date attract a considerable population of 

 Africanders, both of Boer and English blood. 



Finally, I trust that the reader will perceive that 

 I have not written up to any special objective, but 

 with a view to express honest opinions, in it may 

 be rather blunt terms. And here, perhaps, it will 

 be as well to mention that I have no pecuniary 

 interests in South Africa, but, notwithstanding 

 this deficiency, the welfare of the country enlists 

 my sincerest best wishes. 



G. NICHOLSON. 



ROBERTSON, CAPE COLONY. 



