64 Men, Mines, and Animals jn South Africa. 



and are therefore more than good enough for the 

 present day. The perverse simplicity of these Boers 

 is inconceivable, but to it there attaches a dark stain. 

 Corruption, it is openly and publicly asserted in 

 the 23ress, in public speeches, and in society, sways 

 violently and malignantly Government circles. The 

 vicious system of concessions abounds. D}'nainite, 

 an article of prime necessity in a mining country,lias 

 been made the subject of a monojDoly, and granted 

 to an individual A\'ho, for considerations unknoAvn, 

 is entitled to exclude all other dynamite from the 

 country but his own, and receives a royalty of 

 12.i'. 6(/. a ton on all his own dynamite Ayliich is 

 consumed. To such a pitch has the policy of con- 

 cession been carried, that I am informed that 

 quite recently an individual a2)plied to the Govern- 

 ment for a concession to grant concessions, and 

 that the proposition was gravely and seriously 

 considered, but has not yet been accepted. 

 If this country had been in tlie hands of the 

 English or the Americans it would probably now 

 be peopled by some millions of Europeans, would 

 be giving forth every variety in inexhaustible 

 (juantities of vegetalile, animal, and mineral 

 produce, would be intersected by railways and 

 canals — in a word, it might be the most wealthy 

 and prosperous spot upon the face of the earth. 

 But Providence has cursed it with the rule ol" 

 50,000 Boers, and ibi- a time, but I expect only for 

 a time, it is destined still to huiguish. 



