Page:Travel letters from New Zealand, Australia and Africa (1913).djvu/319

 *ican consul, were quite impatient with me because I had arranged to leave Johannesburg at 10 on Monday evening, whereas they said no train left at that hour. So we all took a walk to the railroad station, to get the facts. It turned out that I was right about it, and the consul and Mr. Hofmeyer walked all the way home with me, in explaining how they happened to be mistaken Merchants everywhere work the words "reduction" and "cut prices," for all they are worth. Wherever we have been, we have encountered "reduction" sales, and merchants side by side abuse each other in the placards displayed. "This is a real reduction sale," one placard read; "do not be deceived by false pretenses elsewhere." One shoe store in Johannesburg displays this sign: "Shoes for next to nothing." Every storekeeper thinks he is a public benefactor, because of his low prices.

—When I left home I was told that the name of this town is pronounced Yohonnesburg by its citizens, but I find that they call it "Joburg" almost universally In Durban, the best people ride in rickshas; here, these vehicles are used very sparingly. A law has been passed whereby their use will be entirely prohibited in two years. It is claimed that the ricksha men become overheated while running, and contract consumption A sign frequently seen in Johannesburg reads: "This house and stand for sale." It is equivalent to "This house and lot for sale." I was out this