Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/254





F the two South African Boer States, that which takes its name from the Orange River is the smaller in extent and population. It is conterminous along two-thirds of its frontier on British territory, being bounded on the west by Griqualand West, on the south by C.ipe Colony proper, and on the east by Basutoland and Natal. The northern boundary line is traced by the River Vaal separating it from the sister republic of Transvaal, Before the discovery of the Diamond Fields the large oval-shaped enclave assigned to the Orange Free State was clearly defined on all sides by natural frontiers, the lofty Drakenberg range separating it from Natal between the sources of the Vaal and Caledon; the course of the latter stream, with some offshoots from the main range, form the limits towards Basutoland; the southern boundary follows the meandering course of the Orange, while that of the Vaal was chosen to indicate the north-west and west frontiers. But the peninsular space comprised between these two rivers above the confluence has now been detached from the Free State, and, with its diamantiferous deposits, restored to Cape Colony.

Viewed as a whole this region presents the aspect of a somewhat uniform grassy plateau at a mean altitude of from 4,300 to 4,600 feet above the sea, with a blight incline from north-east to south-west, and presenting little arable or fertile land, except in the eastern parts near the foot of the hills. The superficial area is estimated at about 42,000 square miles, or one-fifth of France, But the country is very thinly peopled, having a joint European and native population of not more than one hundred and fifty thousand, mostly distributed in small village groups or isolated farmsteads.

The beginning of the Dutch occupation dates only from the year 1837, when the first trekkers, leaving Cape Colony with their families, herds, and effects, crossed the Orange River, and ventured to seek new homes among the nomad populations of the unknown region stretching northwards to the Vaal. The convoy of pioneers was followed by others, until a new State was gradually