Twelve Hundred Miles in a Waggon

The author and her friends, on their arrival at Cape Town, stayed for some days at Groot Schuur, and after a short trip which included Basutoland, Johannesburg, and Kimberley, started on their trek to the north. Referring to " the South African Republic," Miss Balfour observed " the ever smouldering irritation of the English" in the Transvaal, " at the inequality of treatment they suffered under the Boers," and she refers to "the contempt in which the latter have held the English ever since the war" (1881). 

The Journey through Rhodesia appears to have been a great success, and the discomforts of early travelling in the new country were met with unvarying good-humour. There is an interesting account of the quarters occupied by Dr.Jameson and Sir John Willoughby in the newly started township of Bulawayo, these gentlemen having put their habitations at the service of the ladies of the party, and there is a description of what existed of the town in those days. Zimbabwe was visited and short trips were made to Victoria and Salisbury, both in their infancy at this period. Many lion stories are related, although no lions were encountered, the author regretfully remarking, " I have spent five months in the country without seeing either lion, crocodile, or hippopotamus. What has been the use of coming to Africa?". After touching at Umtali the party split up, Miss Balfour having decided to return by the East Coast route.

Source:(Mendelssohn Volume1- page 74)

Hardback with red cloth boards with ox-wagon vignette to front board, and gilt lettering to spine. New endpapers. Frontispiece-'Inspanning'. Introductory note. Preface. Contents. xi plus 265 pages text with numerous line drawings. Publisher's advertisement page.

Well read copy. Some spots and signs of use. Good working-reading copy.