The colony of Natal; an official illustrated handbook and railway guide . This centre has asomewhat interesting history, for in its vicinity there are tracesof an old native settlement which at one time constituted thecapital of Mosclikatse, the famous Lion of the North, and thefounder of the Matabcle nation. In the war of i88i, Heidelberg, which was quiteunprepared for defensive measures, was occupied by theTransvaalers, and formed their temporary headquarters whenStanderton on the one hand, and Pretoria on the other, wereheld by the English. The town is built chiefly of uhitesandstone, and a
The colony of Natal; an official illustrated handbook and railway guide . This centre has asomewhat interesting history, for in its vicinity there are tracesof an old native settlement which at one time constituted thecapital of Mosclikatse, the famous Lion of the North, and thefounder of the Matabcle nation. In the war of i88i, Heidelberg, which was quiteunprepared for defensive measures, was occupied by theTransvaalers, and formed their temporary headquarters whenStanderton on the one hand, and Pretoria on the other, wereheld by the English. The town is built chiefly of uhitesandstone, and abounds in substantially constructed hotels,stores and dwellings. It has a population of about i,ooo,and was chief town of its district until the appearance ofJohannesburg As in Standerton, the trade is principally in the hands ofthe English. A handsome Dutch Reformed Church occupiesthe centre of the market square. Passing on from the town, thefirst hint of the proximity of the gold mines is obtained bythe appearance, as in the coal districts of Natal, of occasional 264. head t^car and batteries. The couiiti}- resumes its open andflat appearance, but away to the north-westward the linesoon approaches a long low ridge. This is the far-famed\\itwatersrand ; and glistening along its crest, and awaydown to the valley beyond it, appear the spires and roofsof the African Chicago. Extending for miles on eitherside of the city, a continuous line of mines, batteries, andhead gear can be traced. Approaching this scene on a dark night, it is almostimpossible to believe that it has been called into existencewithin the short space of eight years. Far as the e)-e canreach, the great globes of electric light which arc placed neareach head gear, illuminate the night with a vivid white combined roar of the batteries, softened by distance,sounds like the breaking of the surf on a rocky coast. Asthe train draws nearer still, outlying villages and suburbsare sighted, and when at length it
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidcolonyofnata, bookyear1895
