TBE AORI G U LTU RAL JOURNAL. 



winds with, in some cases, duststorms, have 

 been rather frequent throughout the monih. 



C. HiGNETT, Magistrate. 



RICHMOND, 29th November. -After two 

 days of intense heat, on the last of which the 

 heat was accompanied by a high wind, a little 

 rain has fallen, though a very small quantity. 

 There have been a few thunderstorms lately in 

 this District, but as yet none have visited Rich- 

 mond — most of them having travelled to the 

 East of the immediate neighbourhood before 

 falling. However, during the week previous to 

 this, we had a moderate quantity of rain, and 

 the country round Richmond is looking very 

 well. All kinds of stock are healthy and in 

 good condition ; no cases of contagious disease 

 have appeared among them, though several cattle 

 have been ill from eating tulip, in no case, how- 

 ever, with fatal result. The planting of crops 

 is now proceeding fast throughout the Division, 

 in many cases, to replace those previously 

 planted— these having been destroyed by the 

 grub. Locusts have again appeared in large 

 numbers in this Division, and are, I believe, 

 depositing their eggs, I am informed that, upon 

 being unearthed, some of the cocoons have been 

 found to contain a worm — or maggot— which 

 apparently preys upon the eggs ; it is to be 

 hoped th t many may be destroyed by this 

 means. I hear that the District Veterinary 

 Surgeon (Mr. J. P. Byrne) intends residing per- 

 man ntly at Richmond ; this will, no doubt, be 

 a boon to Ihe farmers of this Division, 



J. P. Waller, Magistrate. 



UMLALAZI, 29th November,— There is little 

 of interest to record since my last report. Lung- 

 sickness is still in this District, and two fresh 

 outbreaks have been brought to my notice, I 

 am not aware, however, of any other disease 

 - amongst stock, except that a few cases of horse- 

 sickness have already occurred in the District. 

 Rain has fallen on seventeen days during the 

 past month, the heaviest being on the 29th, 

 when 120 inches was registered ; the total fall 

 for the month being 4'33 inches. Thunder- 

 storms have been more frequent, and I regret 

 to say during one labt week a Native kraal was 

 struck by lightning, the electric Huid killing 

 three head of cattle ; several Natives in a hut 

 received a shock, but t appily no further injury. 

 Crops are looking well, and are coming on fast. 

 In some few instances the green mealies are 

 ripe already, but in the majority of gardei s 

 have not yet flowered. Locusts are still about, 

 but not in large numbers. They are now de- 

 positing their eggs. The decision of the Gov- 

 ernment to ofi^tra reward for each wild dog 

 killed has been received by the Natives with 

 satisfaction, as the depredations of the se animals 

 are not limited to game, but extend to goat' and 

 sheep as well, and it is confidently expected that 

 the wise action taken by the Government in the 

 matter will have a decided effect in exte min- 

 ating these animals. We have had several very 

 hot days lately. On the 28th ult. the ther- 

 mometer registered 106*^ in the shade at 9 a.m. 

 and 112" at 11 a.m. This has had the effect of 

 bringing out snakes in considerable numbers. 



and I regret to say two fatalities from snake- 

 bite were reported to me in one week. Speak- 

 ing to one of the surrendered burghers in this 

 District on the subject of rinderpest a few d*ys 

 ago, he stated that he had discovered what he 

 believed to be a cure for that terrible disease, 

 and it is ray intention to make further enquiries 

 in the matter, after which I shall report more 

 fully upon it. The usually good fishing to be 

 obtained in the Umlalazi River here has been 

 somewhat spoilt during the past ten days by a 

 shoal of sharks coming in from the sea and 

 playing havoc with the fish. A large whale has 

 been observed several times during the last two 

 weeks spouting water a few miles out at sea. 

 A 'Case of suspeeted chigoe, or jigger flea, was 

 reported, but, owing to the delay in reporting it, 

 the District Surgeon was unable to certify it to 

 be such, the Natives affected having almost re- 

 covered before he saw them. 



J. J. Jackson, Magistrate. 



WEENEN, 30th November.-A heavy fall of 

 rain took place on the 23rd and 24th, nearly two 

 inches falling in the 24 hours. Since then the 

 weather has been extremely hot ; the ther- 

 mometer registering 101'' on the 27th and 9a "on 

 the following day. Probably as a result of this 

 geniality on the part of the weather, snakes 

 appear to be more numerous than usual tMis 

 year. An interesting struggle between a black 

 mamba and a dog was witnessed a few days ago 

 in the Bushman's River, near the village, ihe 

 dog attacked the reptile on the bank, and on its 

 gliding into the stream followed it up. ihe 

 mamba twined itself round its assailant, but 

 was eventually killed. With the assistance ot 

 the on-lookers— Mr. 0. Grant and some natives 

 —both the mamba and the dog were brought to 

 the bank. The latter immediately ran off, and 

 as it has not since been heard of, was presumably 

 bitten, and is probably dead. I have obtained 

 the skin of the snake, which measures over ten 

 fett. An unwelcome patient in the form of an 

 " Umzingandhlu," over four feet in length, was 

 lately discovered by the District Surgeon among 

 his medicine bottles in the Native Cottage Hos- 

 pital, and was eventually despatched. To com- 

 plete the record— a python was killed a tew 

 days ago near the village, and an iguana, which 

 had apparently sought refuge from tue heat, 

 met a similar fate in one of the ofiices ot the 

 Court House, while a black mamba was shot by 

 Mr. .Arnold in his verandah. It is remarkable, 

 with so many unpleasant visitors about, that 

 cases of snake bite are not jicre frequent. 



C. G. Jackson, Acting Magistrate. 



1 have heard many complaints, says " Arator" 

 in the Adueriiser, of loss of dogs this season 

 from disease of some kind, and the number of 

 dogs which hare died must be considerable. 

 The disease appears not unlike distemper in 

 tome lespects, and in others resembles the 

 effects of poison. The dogs sicken, lose condi- 

 tion, and either die, or take a long time to get 

 back their condition and sleekness. 



