84 Men, Mines, and Aniimals in South Africa. 



and commonplace which was somewhat amusing. 

 The First Chamber (or the House of Commons) 

 transact their business in a lofty, spacious, and 

 well-proportioned hall painted in red and green, 

 the national colours, decorated with the arms of 

 the South African Republic largely displayed, and 

 with a full-length portrait of the present President. 

 The Chairman is seated on a platform which 

 traverses the whole length of the hall. On his 

 right is a seat for the President, and again on the 

 ris'ht of the President are seated the members of 

 the Executive, conspicuous among whom was 

 General Joubert. Below on another platform are 

 seated two clerks who read out to the assembly 

 the orders of the day and the contents of bills, 

 memorials, or petitions. To these clerks is also 

 confided the arduous duty of taking down in 

 shorthand the speeches of the members. On the 

 floor of the hall are ranged the members, seated 

 at three long, narrow, parallel tables, slightly 

 curved in the form of a horse-shoe. Some thirty 

 members were present while I was there. Coats 

 and hats were hung up round the wall ; a mes- 

 senger or doorkeeper, in a sort of light brown 

 shooting jacket, heavy walking boots, and a slouch 

 felt hat, strolled about among the members, and 

 represented to my mind the decorous and well- 

 attired officials of our own Parliament. The 

 members speak from their places when called upon 

 by the Chairman. The President is a constant 

 attendant, and takes so free and frequent a part in 

 the debates, that the jealousy of the assembly has 



