"Certainly not," was Mr Stanley's emphatic rejoinder. Proceeding to
deal more particularly with the future possibilities of various parts of
the Cape Colony, he alluded to his visit to East London, which he
thought one of the healthiest places he had ever seen, characterising
the country around as a most charming one. "I was more taken with the
south-east coast," said he, "than with any other part of South Africa.
Probably it was due to the season, but everything was as green as in
England. People looked healthy, and little children as rosy as they
could be. I admired the magnificent groves of trees planted by
colonists and the flourishing estates that were visible all the way
until we got into the Karroo. The best part of the eastern province is
perhaps as large as Scotland. I should say it was just as well adapted
for white people as any part of England, and yet the population is so
scant as compared with the vast acreage. It was in that part that the
English families were settled, and made beautiful towns like Grahamstown
and King Williamstown."
"And at that time," interpolated the interviewer, "they had to contend
with natives, who are now subdued?"
"Yes," said Mr Stanley, "that is a disadvantage that settlers nowadays
would be exempted from."
"Is there not an obstacle to your scheme, in the circumstance that
people nowadays are not content to go abroad for a mere living? They
demand something more than they can get at home--not perhaps a fortune,
but at least the chances of amassing sufficient money to raise them to a
position of comparative independence?"