rim of the plateau may be likened to side eddies resulting from the clash of unequal currents. It is obvious that success of the schemes which aimed at joint spread of Dutch and Teutonic sway f ocean to ocean, must have had the effec stemming the stronger British current alre setting in the transverse direction from Cape northwards. It will be seen farther that other side eddies-Goshen and Stellala -were developed on the west (Bechuanala side of the South African Republic, but w quickly absorbed in the imperial stream flo ing towards the Zambesi, and have left nothi but a name (Vryburg) to recall their fleeti existence. The broad outcome is that both Boer Stat have remained geographical and politic enclaves on the great continental platea severed from all direct access to the sea, an barred from contracting any effective alliance with foreign powers possibly hostile to th British overlordship in South Africa. CHAPTER II THE ORANGE FREE STATE Boundaries-Area-Physical Characters-General AspectThe Kopjes-Drainage-The Orange, Vaal, and Modder Rivers. A LTHOUGH presenting considerable conformity in their main geographical features, the twin Boer States reveal on closer inspection certain differences, especially in their geological constitution, which have been of paramount importance in their historical development. While the region beyond the Vaal is found to be one of the most highly mineralised in the world, the Free State has hitherto yielded nothing but a few diamonds along its western border, and especially at Jagersfontein towards the southern frontier. No doubt the neighbouring district of Kimberley, where is stored up an apparently inexhaustible supply of these gems, forms geographic 15 ally a westward extension of the State. But all claims to this district were withdrawn for an indemnity of £100,000 in 1877, when its value was probably not yet fully understood. By previous conventions, the boundaries were made to coincide with the Drakenberg towards Natal in the north-east; with the Caledon affluent of the Orange towards Basutoland in the east; with Basutoland in the south-east; with the Orange from Basutoland nearly to Hope Town towards Cape Colony in the south; with a conventional line from Hope Town to Platberg on the Vaal towards Griqualand in the west; and with the Vaal from Platberg nearly to Standerton towards the Transvaal in the north. Within these limits the Free State forms a somewhat irregular oblong, extending about 400 miles in the direction from south-west to north-east, and 200 miles from west to east, with a total area of nearly 50,000 square miles, and is consequently almost exactly the size of England without Wales. Like the conterminous parts of the central plateau, the Orange State is essentially a steppe land, level or undulating, covered for the most part with herbage, somewhat dry and in places even bare. Hence it is mainly a vast grazing ground, affording a succulent pasturage for many millions of merino and Cape sheep, goats, horned cattle, and horses, but so ill adapted for tillage that scarcely onehundredth part of the whole area is under cultivation. Rich agricultural tracts are mainly confined to the banks of the Caledon River, where the land under wheat is increasing, and where the vine and fruit trees also thrive. But elsewhere, and especially towards the south-western frontier, the country presents an extremely dreary and even desolate aspect, and this character is maintained on both sides of the Orange River below the Caledon confluence. Thus the extensive tract stretching from Kimberley for 150 miles across the river towards De Aar railway junction, may possibly contain vast underground treasures, but on the surface has little to show except a monotonous succession of rugged, waterless, and mostly treeless plains, dotted with boulders, and here and there relieved by the so-called kopjes-rocky, weather-worn knolls or hills, the asc seldom rising more than 600 or 700 above the surrounding land, isolated o deta or even forming short groups, ridges intersecting the plains at all an These eminences are often flat-topped strewn with boulders of all sizes, which v (possibly gla deposited by unknown (possibly agencies, but being loose and slippery gre increase the difficulties of Hence the kopjes, which are a highly cha teristic feature of South African scenery, easily be converted into little natural citad B and are thus admirably suited to methods of warfare. In December 1899 Spytfontein and Magersfontein ridges w transformed to fortified lines, like those Torres-Vedras, which long held in check Lo Methuen's column advancing to the relief Kimberley. Being flanked east and south by t a general westward incline, the Free Sta drainage throug |