86 Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



answer to an inquiry from me his Honour also 

 expressed the opinion that the Matal^ele would 

 show no hostility against the white settlement in 

 Mashonaland as long as their own proper country 

 was in no ^w^ay interfered with. The President's 

 manner was extremely gracious and genial, and it 

 was not difficult, after only a few minutes of con- 

 versation with him and of ohservation of him, to 

 understand the great and strong influence which 

 he has acquired and retained over his countrymen. 

 The discussions of the Volksraad in either Chamher 

 are often of extreme simplicity and, indeed, frivo- 

 lity. The Second Chamber a short time ago dis- 

 cussed at length with much gravity, and at times 

 with some heat and asperity, the question of how 

 its members should l^e attired. It was at length 

 resolved that a tall Avhite hat, white tie, and black 

 coat should be the prescribed costume. I may add 

 that this Second Chamber has only recently been 

 created. Its members are elected by the same con- 

 stituencies as those which elect the First Chamber. 

 The Boer Constitution-mongers having brought 

 this political infant into existence were exhausted, 

 and neglected to supply it with powers, rights, or 

 duties. It can neither initiate, nor alter, nor even 

 review les-islation. Its consent is not souo-ht for 

 to any law, neither has it any right to discuss any 

 question of expenditure, nor is any information 

 given to it as to expenditure. In its present form 

 it is a mere debatino; societv. In the First 

 Chamber the following incident occurred the other 

 day : Two members, Messrs. Benkes and De Beer, 



