Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/183

 C0LE8BUE0.— HOPETOWN. 187 vear 1888 the conference of the Capo Colony, Natul, and Orange Free State delegates at Cape Town uiianiniouHly agreed to a re])ort recommending the establishment of a South African Customs Union, and the extension of the colonial railway system through the Free State to the Vaal River, the extension to be undertaken by the Free State Government. East of Aliwal North the region comprised between the course of the Orange, the Tolle River, and the crest of the Drukenslwrg, is still included in the territory of Cape Colony. In this Alpine district the two chief centres of population are the villages of Herschel, on the left bank of the Orange, and liarkly, situated in an upland valley near the river Kraal, which falls into the Orange a short distance above Aliwal North. Towards the west, the zone of the colonial territory belonging to the basin of the Orange gradually broadens out with the northern trend of that river. But towns and even villages are rare on these arid upland plains formerly inhabited by myriads of large mammals, and now mostly converted into vast grazing- grounds. Cohnhurg, now connected by rail with Port Elizabeth, is the chief depot for goods intended for the Orange Free State. An "international " bridge crosses the Orange about 20 miles to the north-east of this place. Two other bridges follow towards the north-west, between the colonial territory and that of its late acquisition, Griqualand West. One of these belongs to the railway which runs from the Cape in the direction of the Diamond Fields ; the other, at I/opefown, lower down, is the most remarkable structure of this sort hitherto erected in Cape Colony; it has a total length of no less than 1,400 feet. Ilope- town, which is distant over GOO miles from the Atlantic, is the last riverain town on the Orange, which from this point to its mouth traverses an almost unin- habited region. Nothing occurs along its banks except a few isolated farmsteads, some Hottentot kraals and missionary stations, the German " colony " of Sto/zrr- feh, and some Bushman camping-grounds. At the base of the hills far inland are a few market villages, such as Hanover, Richmond, Victoria Went, Fraserhurg, and Carnarvon, whence the stock-breeders of the surrounding districts draw their supplies. Material Resources of Cape Colony. — Agrictlture. The population of Cupe Colony is rapidly increasing by the natural excess of births over the mortality. Families are very numerous, and cases are mentioned of patriarchs whose family circle comprises over two hundred living descendants.* Nevertheless the actual number of inhabitants is still very slight compared with the vast extent of still unoccupied lands suitable for colonisation. South Africa, iit least throughout all the coastlands below the Tugela basin, enjoys an excellent climate, presenting no obstacles to field operations, and every farmer makes it a {)oint of honour to make his holding yield simultaneously " ccm and wine, meat and wool." Land is not yet very dear, except in the neighbourhood of the towns • Von Hobner. op. eit.