loo Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



ela]3se before precise and definite information can 

 be obtained, and some still longer time l^efore any 

 develoj)ment of the auriferous properties can be 

 made. But the mineral resources of the Transvaal 

 are, indeed, extraordinary. Far and wide all over 

 the country they may be found, and it is difiicult 

 to over-estimate the numbers of the population 

 which will at some future day be settled here or 

 the amount of wealth which will l)e produced. 



At Pietersburo' our method of travellino- had to 

 be changed. The coach was abandoned and " the 

 spider " resorted to. This latter cai-riage I had 

 purchased from Mr. Xelmapius at Pretoria ; it had 

 been specially constructed for travelling in the 

 veldt. The four wheels are high, light in appear- 

 ance, but of great strength. The seats inside 

 provide for four passengers, and are roomy and 

 comfortable. On the driver's seat three persons 

 can be seated. Over all, projecting ^vel\ on to the 

 splashboard, is a light canvas covering fitted with 

 ^vindows and with cushioned sides. At night the 

 space between the inside seats is fitted up with the 

 cushions from the front seat, the curtains behind 

 and in front are let down, the windows raised, and 

 a first-rate sleeping apartment and bed are at once 

 secured. These "sj^iders" are constructed to go 

 over almost any road, and are far more comfortable 

 nnd less jolting than a two-wheel Cape cart. 

 Eio;ht fine strono; mules, an Eniiiish driver, and a 

 " boy," complete the equipment. Besides the 

 "spider" we had to engage a cart with six mules 

 for our baggage and provisions. From Pieters- 

 burg to Tuli there is no hotel and little store ac- 



