From Capetown to New- Zealand.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 109, 16 February 1901, Page 3

From Capetown to NewZealand.

By C. A. Wilson’

Capetown, the capital and largest town in Cape Colony, is geograpuied (lo coin a word), as possessing a population of 60.000 peopie. This was several years ago, so that one •li iy with soma show of reason assess it now as ]20,000. The town itself is closely built on a large area, and its suburbs, some of them situated eight or ten miles from the middle of the town, are being gradually merged from respectablesized adjuncts to parts of one greatsolid block. Arriving in Capetown by rail from the north, the first thing that strikes one is, of coarse, the sight of the far-famed Fabie Mountain. I must own to a slight feeling of disillusion on seeing this r igged peak for the first time. From my youth up I had heard of the largest fiat-topped peak in the world, and when it was actually before me 1 could scarcely believe my eyes. Perhaps the reason was that for a number of weeks I had ceen travelling past lofty ranges and rocky peaks of great height, anl the 3500 feet of 'Fable Mountain looked small by comparison. However, after a few days I learned to appreciate the rugged beauty of this peculiar peak and the range to which it beiougs. This was especially true when the warm wind blew in from the sou’-west, rising against the sides of the mountain into colder regions, and fleecy clouds of mist descended on the Table, covering it with the much heard of cloth. Then the comparative shortness of the mount was forgotten. Sometimes, too, the mist would be driven down the sides in -a perfect Niagara of vapour, a sight once seen to be never forgotten. The whole mountain background of Capetown resembles a lion extended at full length on the ground. On the left the Devil’s Peak forms the rump, Table Mountain -the back, and after a sweeping indentation forming the neck, the Lion s Head forms a fitting conclusion to the simile. Rugged and stern it lies, a type of the people who call it theirs, a race as immovable from its purpose as the mountain from its base. To a casual observer, landed in Capetown without the knowledge that the war was m progress, it would not be credible that it was the base of operations of one of the most protracted wars Great Britain has yet been engaged in. Transport waggons, drawn by mules and driven by natives, and in charge of several “ gentlemen in khaki ” are of course somewhat in evidence ; now and again a bugle rings out from Barracks or Castle, anfi -ever and

anon a squad of khaki swings by to the rat-a-tat of the drum and the shrill notes of the fife, but this is lost in the general commercial bustle. Shopkeepers philosophically smoke at their doorways' and yarn to their neighbours, mayhap about the war, but as likely as not on the peccadillos of “ Brass Button ” or “Coffee Berry,” thoir native servants ; groups of Indian hawkers display their wares and endeavour, if not moy. d oq by the po'ico, to inveigh the unwary into‘buying from their gaudily embroidered stock. Here again, natives of all races---Arabs, Indians, the negro of the Gold Coast and the Kaffirs of many tribes, lazily saunter along the streets, or crowd into the great market square, where merchandise of all kinds is sold, while others run along with parcels on their heads or gaudily dressed Kaffirs spied past at' a great pace, dragging jinricksha.-, (light carts) containing persons, who, by judging by their countenances, enjoy the novel sensation of being drawn by ft human beast of burden. These Kaffirs, who rival the trade of the buses, are generally attired in a loose coloured jacket, and have huge feathers on their shoulders to represent wings, other plumes stuck' into thoir woolly heads, and tight knickerbockers of vari-coloured hues. It is a favourite amusement r,o get in and then start the “ hoys” racing. Theyentcr thoroughly into the spirit of the thing, and with earpiercing yells dash madly along the less crowded streets, oftentimes, in sheer exuberance of spirits, leaping half thoir own height from the ground, making the more timid occupants clutch the sides of ttio “ rikky ” and wonder vaguely if there is anyone within reach who understands ‘‘first aiu to the

wound© 1.” Hut tho IvaUlrs novur

I make a slip, in spite of the many stoops they descend, and a run of a mile or wo troubles them as lictlo its numberless layers of dire did before they took up a profession, and had consequently to endure at least periodical scrapings. Tho town itself is not very well laid out and some of the streets are very dirty. Numbers of the streets connecting the main traffic arteries are so narrow that two cabs can barely pass, and the footpaths have been cut down to two foot in width. However, Adderley and George streets are of a good width and with their imposing looking public buildings go far-to make up for the n irrowuess of the others. Tho General Post Office in Adderley street is a nobio structure of five stories, with slate roof and numbers of domes, the window 7 piiiurs above tho first storey being in tho elaborate Corinthian style. Huvorai doors along, another elaborate Id nek of buildings ris33 six stories skyward, but having been built in parts, it has not Cue symmetrical look of the other. Hire and there is a fine church, while tho vast railway i station is in itself of more than passing interest. Electric trams run in the street and from all tho suburbs. Tho fare to Wyuburg, eight miles away, is sixpence. Electricity is of course el, bat in some parts gas still survives. {To he Continued.)