Cape Colony
It is a standing surprise to the watchful outsider how little attention is bestowed on some of our colonies. For instance, to the Cape Colony, comprising vast, varied, and productive regions, we have till recently manifested profound ignorance and consequent indifference. When the Cape Colony was first incorporated with the Empire, it was pronounced “a bauble, unworthy of thanks.” Yet before the Suez Canal and the Waghorn overland route to India, the Cape, as commanding our road to India, Australia, and China, had a special importance. Even now it presents an alternative route which under conceivable circumstances may be of capital moment.
The high grounds above Cape Town are rich in medicinal health-giving waters. The districts where these springs occur are high-lying, free from malaria, and admirably adapted for the restoration of invalids. It needs only some distinguished power to set the fashion, some emperor, prince, or reigning beauty to take the baths and drink the waters, and the tide of tourists would carry prosperity to Aliwal North, Fraserburg, Cradock, and Fort Beaufort.
South Africa, as I shall endeavour to show in detail, is the most important source of diamonds on the earth, and ranks with Australia and California as one of the three great gold-yielding regions. But the wealth of South Africa is not only in its gold and diamonds. The province of Natal contains more coal than Britain ever owned before a single bucket had been raised, and the beds extend over the Orange River Colony, whilst valuable iron ores exist also in large quantities.
In the year 1896 I spent nearly a month at Kimberley. Mr. Gardner F. Williams, General Manager of the De Beers Consolidated Mines, and the Managers of neighbouring mines, did their utmost to assist me in my inquiries and to ply me with valuable information. I had full access to all the workings, above and below ground, and was able to examine at leisure their stock and take extracts from their books.
Again, in the year 1905, I paid another visit to Kimberley as the guest of Mr. Gardner Williams on the occasion of the meeting of the British Association in South Africa.