The Twentieth Century Cyclopedia Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt: ... Great Fish and Great Kei, on the s.E.; and the Hartebeest and the Vaal, tributaries of the Orange. The climate is very healthy and generally pleasant. Except along the coast, especially the south-east coast district, where there are extensive forests, timber is scarce, but with irrigation trees can be grown anywhere. The quadrupeds of the colony comprise the African elephant, still found in the forests of the south-east coast region; buffalo, wildboar, zebra, quagga, leopard, hyena, numerous antelopes, baboon, armadillo, &c. The birds include vultures, eagles, the serpenteater, pelicans, flamingoes, and, most important of %11, the ostrich, now bred in farms for the sake of its feathers. The cobra and other reptiles are found. The principal minerals are copper ore, coal, iron ore, manganese, and diamonds, amethysts, agates, &c. Coal and copper are worked, and the diamonds have brought a great amount of money into the colony since 1869, and have given rise to the town of Kimberley, the centre of the diamond fields. Wheat, maize, and other cereals can be grown almost everywhere, if there is sufficient moisture, in some years yielding a surplus for exportation. All kinds of European vegetables, pot herbs, and fruits thrive excellently, and fruits dried and preserved are exported. The vine is cultivated, and excellent wines are made. Sheep-rearing, especially that of pure merinoes, is the most important industry, and wool the. chief export Ostrich feathers, hides, and skins are also exported. Both native and Angora goats are bred, and the export of mohair is important. Cattlebreeding is also carried on to some extent.-There are as yet no manufactures of importance. The colony is intezsected by 1600 miles of railway, far-inland Kimberley being now thus c...