E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Taavi Kalju, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 16399-h.htm or 16399-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/3/9/16399/16399-h/16399-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/3/9/16399/16399-h.zip) A WINTER TOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA by SIR FREDERICK YOUNG, K.C.M.G. (Reprinted by permission from the Proceedings of the Royal Colonial Institute, with large additions, Illustrations, and a Map.) London: E.A. Petherick & Co., 33, Paternoster Row, E.C. 1890 [Illustration: MY WAGON.] TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, PRINCESS LOUISE, MARCHIONESS OF LORNE, This Volume, describing a recent tour, during which a large portion of Her Majesty's magnificent Dominions in South Africa were traversed, is, by gracious permission, dedicated with feelings of sincere respect. [Illustration: Decorative] INTRODUCTION. The growth of the great Colonies of the British Empire is so phenomenal, and their development is so rapid, and remarkable, that if we are to possess a correct knowledge of their actual state, and condition, from year to year, their current history requires to be constantly re-written. The writer of a decade since, is, to-day, almost obsolete. He has only produced a current record of facts, and places, at the period he wrote. This is especially the case with South Africa. I have recently returned from a very interesting tour in that remarkable country. My impressions were noted down, as they occurred, from day to day. A summary of my observations, and of the incidents, in connection with my journey, was the subject of a Paper I read at the opening meeting of the present Session of the Royal Colonial Institute, on the 12th of November last. I wish it to be understood that the opinions expressed on that occasion were my own, and that the Institute as a body is in no way responsible for them. This Paper has formed the outline of the volume, which--with much new matter from my note book--I now offer to the public, in the belief, that the narrative of a traveller, simply seeking instruction, as well as amusement, from a few months tour, while traversing some 12,000 miles by sea, and 4,000 miles by land, through the wonderful country in which he lately roamed, might prove of some use, in awakening additional interest on the part of the general public, to one of the most promising, and valuable portions of the Colonial Empire. In this spirit, I offer my "Winter Tour in South Africa," to my countrymen, "at home and beyond the seas," in the hope that it may receive from them, a favourable reception.