1 6 A Breath from the Veldt 



far-sighted farmers, having suitable lands, have adopted such a policy. The 

 bontebucks on the farms of Mr. Van der Byl at Swellendam, the black wilde- 

 beests on two farms in the Free State, the blessbucks on the lands adjacent to 

 the Vaal River, and the hippopotami on the lake near Durban are all good 

 instances. The real difficulty is to get the right sort of men to interest them- 

 selves in such a project. South Africa is a country where men go to make 

 money, and having attained any degree of affluence they wisely come back 

 to the old country to spend it. Such men, therefore, as Major Frank Johnson, 

 the administrator of Manicaland, are scarce ; and he of all others is the most 

 likely man to carry these ideas into effect, and obtain sufficient support. Being 

 a man of considerable influence, as well as a first-class sportsman and naturalist, 

 there is probably no one in South Africa more fitted to set the scheme on 

 its legs. 



I had the pleasure of returning to England with him in November 1893, 

 and we had many talks on the subject. He has hunted in the interior with 

 great success during the past eleven years, has influence with the people from 

 whom animals could be obtained, and is, moreover, one of the most energetic 

 and popular men in the country. If he would undertake the work (as I think 

 he would, with a few of the right sort to help him) the thing would be done 

 at once. As to cost, but little outlay would be required to start the concern. 

 Given a small park and building, capable of extension as time goes on, it would 

 be enough to provide, in the first instance, for only two or three specimens of 

 the more rare and interesting animals, and if steps be at once taken to this 

 end, these can be readily obtained from the farmers, traders, and hunters who 

 are constantly moving to and fro in the interior. 



After four days at Cape Town I hied on my first stage northwards, to 

 Beaufort West, a charming little village (or town, as it is called) situated in 

 the centre of the Great Karroo, under the shadow of the Nieuveldt Mountains. 

 An altitude of 3000 feet gives it a certain degree of coolness ; being favoured 

 also with an atmosphere of marvellous purity, it is rapidly coming into favour 

 as a health resort to sufferers from lung troubles. And speaking from 

 experience, as well as from what I gathered from other visitors there, during 

 a residence of six weeks, I can testify to the wonderful health-giving properties 

 of the place. -^ 



Unlike most of the smaller towns in South Africa, Beaufort West has some 



' An admirably-managed hotel-sanatorium is kept by Mr. J. Butt, situated about three miles from the 

 town on the side of the mountains. 



