Notes on Natal : an old colonist's book for new settlers / edited by John Robinson.
- John Robinson
- Date:
- 1872
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Notes on Natal : an old colonist's book for new settlers / edited by John Robinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![and made lior suspicious. We only Lope we shall bear her no malice. About 4 p.m. wo rather abruptly round some hills, Kafirland at our backs, and appear as if leav- ing the direct road, now turning to the right in a sandy lane. Soon we reach a drift, (which has e-vidently been improved), on the bank whereof is stuck the lid of a red (Geneva) case, on which is written toll. Stand- ing at the door of a house near bye, on the left, are a man and woman, who watch us pass but make no sign. Neither, however, do we. The man deserves a shilling from passers-bye for the improvement he has here effected, but of course it is optional with travellers, as the Free State has not adopted tolls, the roads and drifts being al- lowed to take care of themselves. Far be it from us to suggest any such imposition—tolls, we mean. 4-40 p.m. —Hiscock's, Sand River (245 miles from Durban), where we are to remain for the night. The hotel here is kept by a son of the late Jno. Hiscock, formerly of Natal, who established himself first at Liebenberg's Vley. We are made very comfortable, but fear the present incumbent is not long for this world, i^oor fellow I Feom Bloemfontein to the Fields.—Frost.— First Impressions of Dutoitspast.—Digging Described.—Old Natalians, &c. Arrived at Adamanta. Left Bloemfontein by post-cart, on Thm-sdaj'-, the 8th June, at 3*15 p.m. Pleasant ride to Wolf's house—a four hours' drive—and proceeded in the dark after an hour's stay and a cujd of coffee. Night bitterly cold, with frost. As the mules would not keej) the road, we had to wait (without outspanning) for the moon to rise. About three next morning we reached Vandermerwe's, and out- sjDanned—leaving again a little before six o'clock. Cold (in the cart all the time; no bed) intense, and moustaches were small icicles. At 8 a.m. reached Boshoff (72 miles), leaving again at 10. About 11, outspanned at Cornelius Ooetze's for an hour, and then struck across country. 1*30 we reached Piet Swart's, and at 2-10 ]).m.. outspanned at Krege's dam for a quarter of an hour or so. Passed through the most volcanic gorges I ever saw. Shortly before four got our first view of the now famous Dutoits- pan, Bultfontein, and Alexanderfontoin Diamond Fields, which, from this point, look like a stretch of tents, at least a mile in length, glistening very prettily in the sun- shine, on the sides of a gentle slope. At 5 p.m. we drove](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24750517_0246.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
