prospect of most profitable results in it for years to come.  Altogether, from what I have seen of the various gold mines of Johannesburg, I am satisfied of the permanence of its gold fields.  Of course they are not all of equal value; but many, even of the poorer mines, when they come to be worked more scientifically, and on proper business principles, will ultimately be found to pay fairly, although they may never be destined to yield such brilliant results, as some of those I have mentioned.  The Market Square (of which an illustration is given) is the largest in South Africa, covering an area of 1,300 feet in length, and 300 feet in width.  Some idea of the growth of Johannesburg may be gathered from the fact, that at the latter part of the year 1886 there was not a Post Office in existence, whilst the revenue of that department for the first quarter of 1887 was L167, and at the end of 1888 it had risen to L7,588.

[Illustration:  Johannesburg market place.]

This extraordinary and rapid growth has unfortunately produced the usual results, when an immense population is suddenly planted on a limited area, without any proper sanitary arrangements being provided for their protection.  From its elevated situation and naturally pure and dry atmosphere, Johannesburg ought to be a very healthy town.  That it notoriously is not so, and that the amount of sickness and death-rate from fever and other diseases is abnormal, must, undoubtedly, be attributed to the great neglect and utter absence of an efficient system of drainage.  I fear this state of things will continue; and the certainty of serious increase, as the population continues to grow rapidly, is only too likely, until there is established some kind of municipal body, acting under Governmental authority, to adopt a thorough and complete system of sanitation.  It is to be hoped that the Transvaal Government, which is having its treasury so rapidly filled from the pockets of the British population, which is pouring into Johannesburg, as well as into so many other towns in the Transvaal, will awake in time to the importance of taking measures for thoroughly remedying this great and glaring evil, which is becoming such a scandal, as well as creating such widely spread and justifiable alarm among the British community in the Transvaal.[B]

[Illustration:  Decorative]

[Footnote B:  Since my return to England I am glad to hear that a Sanitary Board is to be established at Johannesburg.]

[Illustration:  Decorative]

Pretoria.

From Johannesburg I proceeded to Pretoria, a distance of about thirty-five miles, through a fine, and bold, and sometimes pretty country.  Some of the views on the way were extensive and picturesque.  Pretoria itself is an exceedingly pretty town, situated at the base of the surrounding hills.  There is a continuous, and most abundant supply of water running through all the principal streets.  Here, again, I was