The New Monthly Magazine (Volume 143) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1868. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. THE GOLD-FIELDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. Relation to Natal and the Transvaal Republic--Explorations of Carl Mauch and Hartley--Discovery of Ancient Gold Diggings--Excitement in the Colonies --Resources of the Country and Character of the Natives--The Way Thither --Settlement at the Victoria Gold-fields--Port San Lucia--Delagoa Bay-- Portuguese and Dutch Factories--British Territory--Inhambane, its Rivers and Resources--Town and Port of Sofala--Ancient Kingdom of Mocoranga --Occupation by the Portuguese--Ruins of Ancient Cities--Zimboe, Bembc, and Bunjaai--Site of Ophir--River of Sabaea--Manica Gold-mines--Pearl Islands--Adaptation of the Country to Colonisation. A Vast tract of country, extending from the British colony of Natal and the Transvaal Republic to the great river Zambesi, is about very probably to be soon added as a new colony to the already extensive possessions of the British empire. This vast tract, hitherto little explored, is traversed by two hilly or mountainous regions, one internal, the other exterior, or coastwise, and which give birth to several fine rivers, more especially the Maputa, the Limpopo, the Sabaea, and the Sofala, that pour their waters into the Indian ocean, and to others, as the Longwc, the Senungwe, and the Luize, which flow into the river Zambesi. Although little explored in modern times this tract embraces that land of Ophir which was so celebrated in ancient, and more especially Biblical times, as supplying Ethiopia, Egypt, Judaea, and Phoenicia, with precious metals. Dotted in parts with ruins of cities--with monuments of olden times as yet undepicted, and inscriptions as yet undeciphered--and with ecclesiastical structures of the early Portuguese, its antique grandeur and population is probably abou...