INTRODUCTION. ix 



large work, they are well adapted for Parochial, School 

 and Cottagers 1 Libraries, as well as for circulation 

 through the medium of Free Libraries, Mechanic Insti- 

 tutions, Book-Hawking Societies, &c. The affluent, who 

 have both opportunity and leisure for reading the book 

 of travels, can, at a small price, gratify and inform the 

 poor on one of the most interesting and important topics 

 of the day, by placing this little book in their hands. 

 In truth, many persons whose time and energies are too 

 much occupied for reading large books in general, can 

 hence gain an outline of our traveller's great achieve- 

 ments, and, in the main, hear him tell his own story. 



At all risk of compromising the desirable character 

 of being regarded as a judicious editor, I have designedly 

 kept prominent the important object of meeting a great 

 public want by making this book a complete manual of 

 the central South African question in all its bearings. 

 An attentive perusal of this volume will give the ordi- 

 nary reader a concise but entire view of this interesting 

 topic. 



I have been encouraged to take this course in having 

 my own judgement fortified by the advice of literary 

 friends. If I have erred, I have knowingly sacrificed my- 

 self for the good of others. 



Although our traveller actually speaks verbally in but 

 a small part of this book, still in fact and substance it is 

 mainly as essentially his as though he had dictated or 

 written its pages. 



