BASUTOLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 350, 5 February 1881, Page 2

BASUTOLAND.

A military correspondent of The Times gives the following description of they scene of the Avar at the Cape :—“ Basuto land may bo described ag the Wales of South Africa. It is a little province fitted at the north-east corner of the Cape Colony, between the Orange Free State, tiie Cape Colony, and Natal. It is about parallel to the Grange Free State, or, roughly speaking, nearly parallel at some distance inland with the coast line. Some of its tablelands are nearly 5000 feet above ihe sea, while its loftiest mountain is credited with a height of over 10,000 feet. The cold throughout Basutoland is very severe during the months of June, July, August, and even September. One of the wings of the Cape Mounted Rifles marching up from Kokstad, in Griqua land East, to Maseru, the chief station in Basutoland, was delayed , some days by a heavy fall of snow, which blocked the passes and rendered marching slow and tedious. Though Basutoland may be said to be 150. miles by 5o miles in size, the eastern side of its breadth is scarcely inhabited on account of its extreme cold, and of the inaccessible chaiacter of the mountains. The most thickly populated districts of the little country extend nearly along the whole length, but are of a breadth of about 3o miles only—the Bo miles to the northwest, and lying next to the Orange Free State. It is from the Free State than that Basutoland can be most easily entered, and its chief stations, which lie within a few hours of the Free State border, most safely and easily reached. There are other routes from the south, but they present great difficulties to the

march of troops, and are open to grave objections from a military point of view.” - • / 7