On Wednesday, another batch of letters was received by the
morning papers from their correspondents with the Mashonaland Expedition. When these were written, Mount Hampden—where the Mashonas are known to wash the alluvial deposits for gold—the objective of the expedition was still one hundred and forty miles distant. Providential Pass, a ravine leading to the high ground, had, however, been passed, and the force had actually got upon the plateau, 3,700 ft. above the sea-level, which is described as possessing a bracing and exhilarating climate, and which disclosed "a most magnificent panorama of highland plateau, consisting of gently undulating grassy plains, broken up here and there by distant hills, as far as the eye could reach." This country, which has practically never been trodden by white men, is described as of "limit- less agricultural resources." It produces rice, millet, sweet potatoes, ground-nuts, and tobacco, and could obviously feed a large population. As to means of access, it is proposed, as soon as practicable, to open up portage routes to Tete, on the Zambesi, and to the Pungwe River, on the East Coast. In addition, the railway will be pressed on from the South. Nothing, in fact, could look brighter than the South Africa Company's present prospects ; but there are, nevertheless, plenty of troubles in store for it.
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