Longmans' Geographical Reader for South Africa

Preface

. The title of this book indicates its scope and purpose. The importance of a thorough knowledge of the Geography of one's country is now universally admitted, and teachers are ever anxious to welcome as educational aids such works as may assist them in communicating knowledge and de veloping intelligence, while they are engaged in the more mechanical processes of school life. The method is not new ; it has been extensively practised in Britain for years. Its popularity and success may be accepted as established, when notice is taken of the large number of books of this character now used in schools. The gain to both teacher and pupil is considerable ; a keener interest is created in the reading lesson, and valuable time is saved; relief is given to the overcrowded curriculum, much real knowledge is acquired in a pleasant and profitable manner, and thus has a better chance of being retained in the memory.

The work is the outcome of years of experience and observation. Where authorities differed as to the subject matter, or where information appeared scanty, application was made to fellow-teachers throughout the country, and willingly responded to. It may be stated that most of the VI

PREFACE.

. Chapters were prepared in the form of notes of lessons, and so made use of before the Colony was adequately supplied with books on its Geography suited to the class-room. Much of the matter is new, and will, it is "believed, be found to embody the leading facts required for class-teaching. The need -for a Geographical Eeader has long been felt, and it was suggested that these notes might be published for general use. Accordingly the lessons were re-written, new matter added, and a few pieces of poetry of special South African interest included. Pictorial illustration is an important auxiliary to the teaching of Geography, and the illustrations throughout the book will be found of the utmost value in teaching. The maps of the various districts and riverbasins will afford a stimulus to the map-drawing of other sections of the country, and will conduce to that detailed knowledge of topography now required for Standard work.

In the case of several of the subjects which demanded special knowledge, such as the Fauna, Flora, Mining and other industries, application was made to experts, and the lessons were submitted to them. Revision was made where necessary, and every care taken to bring the facts up to date. But in spite of the utmost vigilance errors may have crept in, and teachers will confer a favour by calling the Compilers' attention to them. Among the authorities consulted special mention should be made of the Official Handbook of the Cape of Good Hope, the last Census Returns, the Argus Annual, the Official Statistics of the Neighbouring States, and several descriptive articles in the

PREFACE.

. VII daily papers and magazines which have appeared during the last three or four years. To all of these sources, to the artists whose photographs have been made use of, and to the numerous friends who have given valuable suggestions and help, the Compilers gratefully acknowledge their in debtedness. J. R. W. W. M. Cape Town, 1894. CONTENTS. CHAP. pAGE I. The Early History of the Cape Colony, ... 1 II. Cape Colony. General Description, .... 4 III. Coast Line, 7 The Loss of the Birkenhead, 14 IV. Climate, 15 V. The River System, 18 VI. Mountains 24 Table Mountain, 27 VII. Plains 29 VIII. Rainfall, 32 In the Drought Lands of South Africa, ... 36 IX. Springs 38 X. Vleys, ' 46 XI. Natives, 43 The Bushman and the Koranna, .... 50 XII. Roads, Bridges, and Mountain Passes, ... 51 XIII. Improved Means of Communication, .... 59 XIV.

Railways, 61 XV. Docks and Harbour Works, 67 XVI. Cape Town, 73 XVII. Port Elizabeth, 82 XVIII. Kimberley and its Diamond Mines, .... 85 XIX. Grahamstown and the Kowie, 89 XX. King Williamstown and East London, . . .93 XXI. The Western Province, 96 XXII. The North-western Province 102 Coast Divisions, 103 XXIII. The North-western Province, . . . _ . 108 Inland Divisions, X CONTENTS. CHAP. 1'AGE XXIV. The South-western Province HI Coast Divisions, 112 Inland Divisions, 115 XXV. The South-eastern Province, 117 XXVI. The Midland Province, 122 Divisions of the Interior Plateau 127 XXVII. The North-eastern Province 129 Evening Rambles 133 XXVIII. The Eastern Province, 135 XXIX. Province of Griqualand West, 139 XXX. East Griqualand 141 Tembuland, 143 Transkei, . . . 143 XXXI. Natal, .144 XXXII. Basutoland,. . . . . . . . .149 XXXIII.

The Orange Free State, 152 XXXIV. The Transvaal, 154 XXXV. Namaqualand and Damaraland, .... 158 XXXVI. Zambesia, 160 XXXVII. Industries: 1. Wool 161 XXXVIII. „ 2. Vine Growing, 165 XXXIX. „ 3. Ostrich Farming, .... 168 XL. „ 4. Wheat, . . . . . .171 XLI. Other Productions, 175 XLII. The Cloud, 178 XLIII. Mineral Productions, 181 XLIV. Woods and Forests, 184 XLV. Commerce, .187 XLVI. Denizens of the Desert, 190 XLVII. The Lion, 191 XLVIII. The Elephant 194 XLIX. The Giraffe, * ... 197 L. The Buffalo 200 LI. The Hippopotamus and Rhinoceros ; the Zebra and Quagga, 202 LH. Antelopes and other Game, . . . " . . 204 LIII. The Baboon, Ant-eater, Spring-hare, and Porcupine, 207 LIV. The Tiger, Jackal, Wolf, Hyena, Lynx, . . .210 CONTENTS. XI CHAP. PAGE LV. Afric's Southern Wilds, 212 LVI. Large Birds, 214 LVII. Small Birds, 217 LVII1. Snakes, 220 LIX. Edible Fishes 224 LX. Flora, 227 LXI. The Queen's Jubilee, 1887. Victoria, . . .230