COBB & CO:S COACH. 459 



are well worthy of a visit, for there are few more 

 crowded haunts of trade anywhere to be found. All 

 is bustle and excitement; while the roads are fairly 

 blocked with wagons and carts of every shape and size, 

 for supplies have to be brought from a distance, and 

 there are nearly fifty thousand souls that have to be 

 fed. 



No person is allowed to buy or sell diamonds with- 

 out a Government permit. A breach of this law is 

 punishable by imprisonment, fine, or even by flogging. 

 It is absolutely necessary in such a community to have 

 severe laws enacted, and power to enforce punishment 

 in case of an infringement of them ; but the population 

 have heretofore proved themselves law-abiding, loyal 

 citizens, so no collisions have occurred between the 

 authorities and the people. Another reason, and one I 

 have mentioned before, is that no place was ever pre- 

 viously settled by so respectable a class of emigrants or 

 colonists. 



The morning was bright and clear when I took my 

 seat between the two drivers on the box of Cobb and 

 Co.'s coa.ch at Dutoitspan. For this part of the world 

 not one Jehu is wanted, but a pair, the one on the nigh 

 side handling the ribbons, the other on the off wielding 

 the great cumbersome whip. The conveyance is an 

 immense thing, seating nine inside and five passengers 

 outside. In appearance it much resembles one of those 

 swinging, jolting Noah's-ark affairs that in Boston and 

 New York transfer passengers from the steamboats and 

 trains to the hotels. However, they are as strong as 

 wood and iron can be put together, and if not crowded 

 are very comfortable. Messrs. Cobb and Co. will be re- 

 membered by many Australian friends as the enterprising 



