196 SOUTH AFRICA. 



between three and four millions per annum, com- 

 parative or actual poverty stares the South African 

 colonist full in the face, and in the event of any- 

 thing occurring to preclude the profitable working 

 of the diamond and gold mines nothing could save 

 the country from insolvency, seeing that its debt 

 alone amounts to more than twenty-seven millions. 

 The interest on this debt is mainly dependent for 

 realisation on the output of minerals. If this or 

 anything like it is true as regards the present and 

 prospective situation, how then is it that Cape 

 securities rule so high? We live in a gambling 

 age, and no amount of financial temerity is sur- 

 prising. Anyhow, intending emigrants to this 

 country, or to Rhodesia, will do well to pause 

 before they decide to embark, and to bear in mind 

 that living in the golden city costs at least three 

 times as much, and in Rhodesia ten times as much 

 as in England ; that the prices for provisions, 

 and as a consequence of all necessaries, are rising 

 rapidly, and such comforts as a well-to-do artisan 

 in England is accustomed to are the monopolies 

 of the millionaires. 



A glance at the map of South Africa is sufficient 

 to convince any one that eventually, and even 



