Ti[R Transvaal Parliament. 85 



been at times nroiised, and efforts are iVoiii time 

 to time made to restrain tlie eloquent interference 

 of the Head of the State. I had the advantage of 

 liearing several speeches, and though not undei'- 

 standing the Dutch Language, I noticed that the 

 speakers combined fluency "with brevity, that their 

 manner was one of ease and of dignitv, their 

 gesticulation natural and free. In the Second 

 Chamber I heard the President himself take part 

 in the debate. Three times he spoke with much 

 deliberate composure, but by no means without 

 animation. The two Chambers sit from 9 a.m. to 

 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. They adjourn, 

 however, for a few minutes every hour, for the 

 purposes of smoking and conversation. During 

 one of the adjournments of the Second Chamber 

 I had the honour of being presented to the Presi- 

 dent. His Honour is a gentleman of some sixtv- 

 flve years of age, tall, and rather stout, with a 

 grave, shrewd, 1)ut hj no means unkindly counte- 

 nance. At the moment of adjournment he had lit 

 a short pipe, at which he puffed hastily and im- 

 petuously. Other members were walking about 

 the Chambers also smoking. Some of these 

 manners the English Parliament might copy with 

 ii'reat advantao;e. His Honour was o-ood enouoh 

 to express to me the opinion that the Boer trek 

 into Mashonaland, which has been so much talked 

 about, would give rise to no trouble or anxiety 

 whatever, but that, on the other hand, Boer 

 settlers in Mashonaland would be of great advan- 

 tage and assistance to the Chartered Company. In 



