Mining in the Zoutspanburg. 99 



most obliging, amiable, and hospitable, whose 

 charo'es were moderate. In the mornino- we 

 journeyed to Ey tings, where again we found good 

 accommodation. The place is named after the 

 owner of the hotel. During the two previous 

 davs' travelling through the low bush country we 

 liad descended to a level of about 3000 feet, but on 

 the third day the road again ascended, and at 

 Eytings reached the altitude of 4500 feet. Start- 

 ing at daybreak the following morning we passed 

 through Smitsdorp, a flourishing and rising little 

 town, about 10 a.m., and reached Pietersburg at 

 noon, having taken three days and a half over a 

 journey of about 180 miles. Pietersburg is the 

 capital of the extensive district of the Zoutspan- 

 hurg. Round about, both in the high and low 

 country, many mining enterprises are being carried 

 on. We visited the Mount Marais Mine, four miles 

 from Smitsdorp, and the Palmitsfontein Mine, 

 about six miles from Pietersburg. In the former 

 the ore is of low grade ; in the latter it is in places 

 very rich, but uncertain in extent and depth and 

 pockety. It is not probable that either of these 

 mines will greatly reward its owners. Accounts 

 more or less reliable reached us of extremely rich 

 gold findings recently made in the low counti'v 

 Murchison district, about eighty miles to the east- 

 ward of Pietersburg, one mine, " The Birthday," 

 having produced some very remarkable quai-tz 

 specimens. This district is, however, at present 

 very inaccessible, much tormented with fever, 

 horse sickness, and " fly," and some long time will 



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