With the British Association in Africa. 23 



Ayrton's view and estimates the cost of transmitting the power as 

 reasonable. 



In the various sections some important papers on South African 

 subjects were read — one by Mr. G. W. Lamplugh on the Victoria 

 Falls and others on mining and engineering. These papers 

 connected with South Africa were to be published in one volume 

 by subscription in Johannesburg. I made a communication on a 

 new form of DanielPs battery suitable for laboratory use. 



The chief interest in Johannesburg is centred in the gold mines 

 on the Rand. The gold occurs in the finely-divided metallic form 

 in widely-extended reefs. What strikes one is the enormous outlay 

 in plant and machinery, and the extent of the mines. The ore on 

 being brought to the surface is machine broken, and then crushed 

 by stamps, worked on the principle of our beetling engines, to fine 

 powder, from which the gold is extracted first by amalgamation 

 and then by cyanide of potassium solution, which extracts the 

 finer particles. The drilling and work in the mines is done by 

 Kaffirs. 



The Kaffirs employed on the mines earn about 50s. per month, 

 and are fed on mealie (maize) porridge, with occasionally meat, 

 and they drink Kaffir beer, which is of the colour and consistency 

 of thin gruel, tasting rather sour. They are well housed, sleeping 

 side by side on shelves with feet towards a fire in the centre of 

 the room. The rooms look about 20ft. high, and the boys look 

 comfortable enough. These sleeping houses surround the yard 

 of the compound. There is a hospital in the small compound 

 adjoining, very clean and airy. The Kaffirs are engaged by 

 recruiting agents sent out to their kraals, aud the chiefs appeared 

 to have a say in the matter, as I was informed they had on some 

 occasions objected to send boys to compounds which were not as 

 sanitary as others. 



The general opinion among employers of Kaffirs, both in the 

 mines and farms, and in domestic service, is that it was best to 

 engage the raw native fresh from the kraal. He is more to be 

 trusted than the schooled and christianised native who has lost 



