The Conquest of the Desert 



did not suggest his homely surname, for we 

 fear it might have hampered the progress of 

 the country. But Gordonia is a pleasing name 

 — most people associate it with the hero of 

 Khartoum — and Upington has a ring of real 

 dignity. And so this immense and desolate 

 region was duly christened and then forgotten. 

 Since then, these lost tribes will tell you, in 

 slow and solemn tones, no Cabinet Minister has 

 ever deigned to set foot in their dorp or district. 

 Yet the simple facts are these : Here is a pro- 

 gressive and highly intelligent community 

 possessing a river frontage fringing the finest 

 orange lands in the world, backed by a truly 

 magnificent ranching country stretching north- 

 ward for four hundred miles — the largest, richest 

 and grandest district in the Cape province 



paralysed and perishing for lack of a railway ! 

 • •*•••• 



The Civil Commissioner for the District of 

 Gordonia, who also holds the title of Resident 

 Magistrate, is Mr Daniel May. To this cour- 

 teous and scholarly official I am indebted for 

 much valuable information about this little- 

 known region. The second son of the late 

 Staff -Commander May, R.N., the present chief 

 citizen of Upington was born in the fair county 



12 



