GEOLOGY Oh THE SOUTH APRICAN REPUBLIC 3 
Colony it spread eastward, then northward along the coast line, 
and later the search for useful minerals led people into the desolate 
interior. Coal was the first desideratum, and that was found in 
the beds of the first high plateau, or Karoo region. Further 
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Note.—The accompanying sketch map shows roughly the political divisions of 
the southern portion of the African Continent, the location of the principal mining 
towns and ports, and the main railroad lines. 
advances into this region led to the discovery of the diamond 
deposits, and the foundation of the Orange Free State. 
Following northwestward along the coast of the Indian Ocean, 
through Natal and Zululand, exploration next developed gold- 
bearing quartz veins in the valleys of the Crocodile River which 
debouches into Delagoa Bay, and of the Oliphant’s and other 
tributaries of the Limpopo River which forms the semi-circular 
