[Illustration:
HON: J. W. MATTHEWS M.D. M.L.C.
VICE-PRESIDENT.
]
[Illustration:
HON: G. BOTTOMLEY M.L.C.
KIMBERLEY.
]
[Illustration:
HON: JOHN PADDON M.L.C.
BARKLY.
]
[Illustration:
HON: HENRY GREEN M.L.C.
HAY.
]
[Illustration:
HON: JAMES ROSE INNES. C.M.G.
PRESIDENT.
]
[Illustration:
HON: F. J. VILLIERS.
ACTING COL^L. SEC^Y.
]
[Illustration:
HON: H. B. WRIGHT.
TREASURER GEN^L.
]
[Illustration:
HON: LEIGH HOSKYNS.
ATTORNEY GEN^L.
]
[Illustration:
M^R. ADVOCATE LANGE.
CLERK.
]
INCWADI YAMI
OR
TWENTY YEARS’ PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
IN
SOUTH AFRICA
BY
J. W. MATTHEWS, M.D.
LATE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA, AND LATE
SENIOR MEMBER FOR KIMBERLEY IN THE CAPE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
LONDON
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON
ST. DUNSTAN’S HOUSE
FETTER LANE, FLEET STREET, E. C.
1887
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED]
To
MY FELLOW COLONISTS OF SOUTH AFRICA
AND ESPECIALLY TO
MY FRIENDS ON THE DIAMOND FIELDS
WHO HAVE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS RETURNED ME AT
THE HEAD OF THE POLL TO REPRESENT THEM IN THE
COUNCILS OF THEIR COUNTRY, I RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATE THE FOLLOWING NOTES FROM
AN EXPERIENCE GAINED DURING
TWENTY YEARS
OF, I HOPE, A NOT ALTOGETHER USELESS LIFE AMONG THEM.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Leave England, 1864—Surgeon Superintendent of the
_Tugela_—Capt. Knowles of the _Northfleet_—First sight of
land—Mouth of the Umzimvubu—Gates of St. John’s River—Land
in Natal—Governor Maclean—Appointed District Surgeon of
Victoria Co.—Settle at Verulam. Pages 9–14
CHAPTER II.
Prevailing diseases in Natal—Incident at Mr. Tom Milner’s,
Redcliffe—Interesting medico-legal case—Coffee
Planting—Marriage—Rev. D. Lindley, D. D.—His early
work—Diamond fever, outbreak of—Sail for India. 15–32
CHAPTER III.
Zulu Customs—Ukulobola—Umkosi—Inteyezi—Insomyama—Kafir
Doctors—Fate of the Witch Doctor, Kongota, and his
victims—Bishop Calloway and Zulu “Folk-Lore.” 35–51
CHAPTER IV.
Trip to Tugela—Maritzburg—Bishop Colenso—Umgeni
Falls—Estcourt—Lidgetton—Curious absence of fish in Mooi
River—Capt. Allison’s Border Residency—Usidinane’s Cannibal
Caves—Mont aux Sources—Umbundi’s Pass—Return journey. 52–69
CHAPTER V.
Taking a holiday—Life on board the _Red Riding
Hood_—Mauritius—Madras—Calcutta. 70–84
CHAPTER VI.
Trip to Benares—Cawnpore—Homeward voyage in S. S.
_Vixen_—Distress—Perilous tramp—Aden at last—Suez
Canal—England—Africa once more. 85–93
CHAPTER VII.
Leave Natal—First impression of the Diamond Fields—Sickness
at the Dry Diggings—Father Hidien—Hospital
arrangements—Quacks—Medical registration in South
Africa—Curious decision of Capetown Medical Board—A
“Mendacious” practitioner—Sanitary condition,
1878—Threatened small-pox, 1882—so-called small-pox,
1883–84—Madmen and their treatment—Climate of Griqualand
West. 94–115
CHAPTER VIII.
Gambling at the Diamond Fields—Mr. Dodd’s advice on
gambling—Speculative value of diggings—The Fields in the
early days—Gambling hells in 1872—Mr. Jones “at
home”—Governor Southey’s proclamation—Exodus to the Free
State—Rondo en colo—Collapse. 116–125
CHAPTER IX.
O’Reilly’s account of Niekerk—Dr. Atherstone and the first
diamond—The river diggings—Influx of population—The dry
diggings—Discovery of the Kimberley Mine—Early discomforts
of the diggers—Present condition of Kimberley. 126–135
CHAPTER X.
Geology of the mine and surroundings—Section of reef
strata—Surface soil—Calcareous tufa—Light colored
shales—Black carboniferous shale—Limonite—Landslips—Burning
reef—Sulphur vapors—Natives afraid to work—Coal plants—Fire
and choke-damp—Igneous rocks—Contraction and expansion of
mine—Strata of mine itself—Red sand, tufa, yellow
ground—Blue ground—Rich and poor claims—Remarkable
boulders—Greasy slips—Maskelyne and Flight’s observations. 136–150
CHAPTER XI.
Source of diamondiferous soil—Extracts from Messrs. Bain,
Ure, Dana, and Osborne’s geological theses—Various theories
advanced—None entirely satisfactory or conclusive—The origin
of the precious stone veiled in mystery. 151–171
CHAPTER XII.
The process of diamond mining from start to date—The “Long
Tom”—The “cradle” and the “baby”—The sorting table and
scrapers—Van Doussa’s invention—The scene in the Kimberley
mine—The roads, “stages,” “whims,” and “whips”—The rotary
washing machine—The cylinders and the elevators—Singular
mistakes—Statistics of labor employed—Steam power—Fuel—The
Kimberley waterworks. 172–184
CHAPTER XIII.
Population of the Diamond Fields—Kafir eating-houses as
decoy places—Rumors of tribute in diamonds by the natives to
their chiefs—Ingenuity of native thieves—Celebrated case
Queen _vs._ Vogel—“Happy child of Ham”—Grades through which
a stolen Diamond passes—Spurious notes and glass
diamonds—Case before the late Judge Dwyer at Beaufort
West—High handed conduct of Detective Department—Two Bishops
and a Senator searched—Freetown and Oliphansfontein—A
startling exposure—Trial of notorious Highwaymen—Social
grades of I. D. B.s or Illicit Diamond Buyers. 185–206
CHAPTER XIV.
Diamond legislation—Resume of Sir Henry Barkly’s
Proclamations—Epitome of the ordinances of the Legislative
Council of Griqualand West—Review of the Acts passed by the
Cape Assembly—Description of Trapping system—Adoption of
“onus probandi” clause by Orange Free State—Searching
Department—The Compound system. 207–225
CHAPTER XV.
Description of the I. D. B.—Public morals—The Music Halls
and their songs—M. L. A.s and M. L. C.s in league with
thieves and receivers. 226–230
CHAPTER XVI.
I. D. B.—Tales from real life—“The mystic three letters”—The
Biter bitten—An ungrateful hound—A plucky woman—Nemesis—Too
clever by half—The early bird catches the worm—An unexpected
recovery—A deathbed scene. 231–242
CHAPTER XVII.
Description of the company and share mania in 1881—Events of
the “Bubble Year”—Causes which brought the mania about—Why
companies were first formed—The Barnato Co.—The Central
Co.—The Frankfort mine—The Cosmopolitan Co.—Wonderful
investments—Slow return of confidence. 243–256
CHAPTER XVIII.
The early history of the Diamond Fields—Adam Kok, Cornelius
Kok, “Dam Kok,” Andreas and Nicholas Waterboer—The Diamond
Fields and their Governments—The hoisting of the British
Flag—The Keate award—Rush from the river to the dry
diggings—Pniel deserted—The commencement of diamond
stealing—Judge Lynch puts in an appearance—Discovery of the
new Rush Kopje (Kimberley mine)—British rule proclaimed—Free
State courts closed. 257–274
CHAPTER XIX.
Sir Henry Barkly pays the Fields a second visit—Promises
that the Fields shall be a Crown colony with a Legislature
of its own—Letters Patent proclaiming Griqualand West a
crown colony—Hon. Richard Southey first Lieutenant
Governor—An incipient revolution—The Court-House surrounded
by an armed band—The Black Flag hoisted—The revolt—Colonel
Crossman—Changes in the Legislative Council—Recall of the
Lieutenant Governor. 275–289
CHAPTER XX.
Mr. Justice Barry Acting Administrator—Arrival of Major
Lanyon—Principal events of his administration—Annexation
bill passed Cape House of Assembly—Criminal prosecution of
Editor of “Independent”—Attorney General Shippard’s argument
and oratory—Acquittal of accused—Great rejoicing—Action
against “Independent”—Apology. 290–299
CHAPTER XXI.
The Gaika and Gealeka war—Col. Warren and “our
boys”—Warren’s brilliant coup—The rape of the Gaika
matrons—Signal victory at Debe Nek—Col. Lanyon and
Gasibone—Bloodless victory at Phokwane—Return of
Volunteers—The Griqualand West war—Engagements at Wittehuis,
Langeberg, and Taikoon—Cruel apprenticeship of women and
children—Close of the Griqualand West rebellion—Korannas at
the Salt Pan—Hermanus Lynx and his untimely death—Liquor
Bill of Mr. G. Bottomley. 300–311
CHAPTER XXII.
Col. Warren and Mr. Justice de Wet put their hands to the
plough—Visit of Messrs. Sprigg and Upington—Pie Crust
promises—My protest in the Legislative Council against
annexation—Departure of Mr. Rose Innes C. M. G., last acting
administrator—Election for Cape House of Assembly. 312–319
CHAPTER XXIII.
Natal again—Coolie immigration—Bishop Colenso—Laing’s
Nek—Ingogo Majuba—Interesting interview with Generals
Joubert and Smit—Grave-yard at Mount Prospect—Lady Florence
Dixie—First session in Cape House of Assembly. 320–342
CHAPTER XXIV.
Trip to Robben Island—Dean Newman’s description thereof in
1855—Old Somerset Hospital—Lunatics and Lepers—Horrible
sights—Leprosy among animals—Dr. Wynne’s opinion—Mournful
case in the Sandwich Islands—Dr. Keith Guild’s theory of
leprosy untenable—Annual cost of lepers—Segregation act
passed by the Cape House of Assembly in 1884—Dr. Ross’s last
report 1886—Visit to Cetywayo and Langibalele at Oude
Molen—My wife’s interview with Cetywayo in London. 343–368
CHAPTER XXV.
Visit to Basutoland—Pitso at Maseru—Pitso at
Leribe—Roma—Interview with Masupha—General Gordon’s
appointment—The Roman Catholic and Protestant
Missions—Mafeting—East London—Sir David Wedderburn—Arrival
in Capetown—Cape Assembly—Resignation. 369–392
CHAPTER XXVI.
Description of the religious bodies on the Diamond
Fields—Educational efforts—The Church of England—Roman
Catholic Church—Dutch Reformed
Church—Doppers—Wesleyans—Presbyterians—German
Lutherans—Jews—Mahometans—Hindoos—“Bishop”
Mellet—Natives—Neglected Opportunities—Advent of Salvation
Army—Sundry Visitors—Birds of Passage. 393–413
CHAPTER XXVII.
Law and lawyers on the Fields—Law in the early days—Absence
of crime at that epoch—The Mutual Hall—Magisterial
jurisdiction—The Attorney-generalship—Attorneys and Law
Agents—A sudden death—Curious nomenclature of Kafirs—The
fate of “Brandy and Soda.” 414–423
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A serious accident—Felstead’s—Dr. L. S. Jameson—Trip to the
Transvaal—Mons. Grandier—Umbelini and
Cetywayo—Christiana—Potchefstroom—Pretoria—The Erste
Fabrieken—Burgers—Shepstone and Lanyon—Mapoch and
Mampoer—Battlefield of Bronkhorst Spruit—Start for Natal. 424–454
CHAPTER XXIX.
Leave Pretoria—A trying
situation—Heidelberg—Standerton—Michaelson’s—Boer Camp at
Laing’s Nek—Majuba once more—Newcastle—Maritzburg—Plough
Hotel—D’Urban—Voyage to the Cape—Curious mental
phenomenon—Return to Kimberley. 455–462
CHAPTER XXX.
Visit to the Kaap Gold Field—Caves at Wonderfontein—The
Duivel’s Kantoor—“The Valley of the Shadow of
Death”—Barberton and its development—Course of gold
discoveries. 463–481
CHAPTER XXXI.
Moodie’s syndicate—Their exorbitant demands and the
result—Barber Bros. and the Umvoti Reef—Mad
speculations—Future of the Gold Fields. 482–493
CHAPTER XXXII.
Leave Barberton—Steynsdorp—Komati River—King Umbandini’s
Kraal—Swazi Land—The drink curse and its result—Interview of
Dr. Clark, M. P. Transvaal Consul-General in England, with
Umbandini—National yearly dance of Swazis—The Tembi—Delagoa
Bay. 494–510
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Lourenço Marques—The changes it has
seen—Harbor—Climate—Railway plant imported by the late
President Burgers—Advantage of the Delagoa Bay route to the
Gold Fields. 511–514
CHAPTER XXXIV.
L’envoi. 515–518
APPENDIX.
Zulu ultimatum—Table of Diamond exports—Dr. Schenk’s report
of geological formation at Barberton—Burgers’ protest
against the annexation of the Transvaal—Clause 11 of Gov.
Southey’s dispatch, April 11th, 1874, to Sir Henry
Barkly—John Dunn’s letter to the Aborigines Protection
Society. 519–542
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Legislative Council Griqualand West, 1885 _Frontispiece_
The Mouth of the Umzimvubu 8
Port Natal and Town of D’Urban 9
In a “Parlous” State 19
Falls of the Umzinyati 24
Inanda 25
Scene in Natal, Family Group of Zulus 34
Diagram of Kraal 38
A Kafir Dance 47
Umjaba’s Kraal 53
Zulu “Mashers” 41
Falls of the Umgeni 61
Falls of the Tugela 67
Umbundi’s Pass 73
Pieter Botte Mountain 79
First Home on the Diamond Fields 95
Kimberley Mine—First Stage 98
Kimberley Mine—Middle Stage 115
Kimberley Mine—Present Stage 127
Drying Floor for Blue Ground 133
Kimberley Mine—Transverse Section 143
Kimberley Mine—Plate I 153
Kimberley Mine—Plate II 159
Kimberley Mine—Plate III 163
Kimberley Mine—Plate IV 169
Diamond Washing Machine 173
Spurious Bank Note 196
Free Town 212
The Waterboer Medal 259
The Vaal River Drift 282
Annexation—Melancholy End of Griqualand West 292
Cartoon, “He’d Be Floored” 298
Taikoon Pass 307
Grave-yard at Mount Prospect 328
Leper Department, Robben Island 349
Cetywayo, with Autograph 360
Cetywayo’s Wagon 366
Maseru, Basutoland 371
Molappo’s House, Basutoland 376
Roma Mission (R. C.), Basutoland 384
A “Dopper” Boer 402
Bronkhorst Spruit 429
Court-House at Potchefstroom after the siege (1880) 433
Execution of Mampoer, Nov. ’83 443
Monument (Boer’s) 457
Monument (British) 459
Cave at Wonderfontein 465
Barberton, Transvaal 470
Barberton, First Gaol and Hospital 477
Sheba Reef, Barberton 487
Kafir Hut 497
Falls between Barberton and the King’s Kraal, Swaziland 499
[Illustration:
THE MOUTH OF THE UMZIMVUBU—“GATES” OF ST. JOHN’S RIVER, NATAL.
]
[Illustration:
PORT NATAL AND THE TOWN OF D’URBAN.
]
CHAPTER I.
LEAVE ENGLAND, 1864, AS SURGEON SUPERINTENDENT OF THE “TUGELA.”—CAPTAIN
KNOWLES OF THE “NORTHFLEET.”—FIRST SIGHT OF LAND.—MOUTH OF THE
UMZIMVUBU.—LAND IN NATAL.—GOVERNOR MACLEAN.—RECEIVE APPOINTMENT AS
DISTRICT SURGEON OF VICTORIA COUNTY.—SETTLE AT VERULAM.
After finishing my studies in Scotland I visited London at the end of
the autumn of 1864 for the purpose of appearing before the examining
board of the Apothecaries’ Hall, when I found myself the guest of a
brother-in-law, a popular non-conformist preacher in one of the populous
suburbs of that city. During my stay with him I happened to hear one
evening that an emigrant ship appointed to sail next day to Port Natal
would most probably be detained by the sudden illness of the surgeon
superintendent who had governmental charge. The vacancy was offered to
me on condition that I should at once pass the official examination
required of every medical man before he can be legally entrusted with
the care of government emigrants. Early next morning, therefore, I
appeared before Mr. Le Gros Clark, the appointed examiner, and
successfully passing this extra examination joined on the same afternoon
the good ship _Tugela_, Captain Stewart, bound with emigrants to Port
Natal, South Africa. Sailing at once, I had for the first time an
opportunity to look round at my fellow voyagers, who were chiefly
composed of honest English yeomen with their families seeking to better
their fortunes. The officers as time went on I found to be good men and
true, the chief especially, whose sterling qualities, of which but a few
years after he gave signal proof, I soon learned to appreciate. His
memory is now all that remains; yet many of my readers and especially of
my fellow passengers will have recognized in the noble hero of the
_Northfleet_, the same Knowles of the _Tugela_, who on the fatal night
of January 22d, 1873, when his ship lay at anchor between Folkestone and
Dungeness, with 400 men, women and children on board, bound for
Tasmania, was run into and sunk by a foreign steamer. I remember reading
how chivalrously he endeavored to rescue the women and children, and how
with his revolver he shot down those who in a cowardly manner tried to
seize the boats. As said at the time, “he died at his post, sinking with
his ship, having acted with a calmness, promptitude and decision that
will cover his memory with honor.”
The position of medical superintendent on board an emigrant ship I soon
found was in one sense no sinecure, but I quickly learned the art of
adjusting opposing social elements, and lulling the brewing storms,
which, as there was neither sickness nor accident during our voyage,
were the only cases (?) about which I was consulted.
Time dragged slowly on. Since bidding “good-bye” to old England on
December 3d, 1864, the eighty-four days we spent together on board the
_Tugela_ passed monotonously yet pleasantly enough, our enforced
idleness being broken only by alternate storms and calms, the distant
view of passing ships, and the comparatively uninteresting episodes of
emigrant life, until on Sunday morning, February 5th, 1865, the “golden
shores” of the Promised Land to which we were bound, burst upon our
view. Running before a fair wind in sight of land, we feasted our eyes
for a few hours, as we sailed along at a distance of one or two miles,
on the lofty cliffs with their grass-clad, table-topped summits, which
command the mouth of the Umzimvubu, the “Gates” of St. John’s River, and
excited were the discussions we indulged in about the reported resources
and fertility of the land to which we were destined. We were a long
time, however, in coasting to Natal, and it can well be imagined how our
desire and curiosity increased. At last the early morn of February 25th
found us laying at anchor outside the bar of the harbor of Natal. Words
cannot depict the intentness with which we surveyed the bluff, standing
like a sentinel on guard at the south entrance of the bay, and admired
the tropical vegetation with which it was clothed from base to summit;
neither can I put into words the interest we felt as we gazed at the
rolling breakers, and the eager anxiety with which we watched the
sluggish approach of the lighter destined to land us on the shores of a
new country. As all the emigrants under my charge landed in good health
after the long voyage, the gratification that I felt was very great. I
will not attempt to describe the hearty greetings of friends long
separated, the tender embraces of husband and wife, of parent and child,
again united, nor the shy, coy, loving looks of some, which threw out a
suggestion of an anticipated happy future.
Passing my luggage through the custom-house, I rode up to D’Urban from
the point along a deep, sandy bush path, skirted on both sides by a
tangled mass of tropical vegetation, forming a dense undergrowth to fine
forest trees, and went to the “Royal,” kept at that time by a good
fellow named Jessup, who years afterward “played the part of a
Boniface,” as the saying is, at the diamond fields.
Having a few days to wait here until the next mail steamer sailed to
England, I happened in conversation casually to hear of a vacancy in the
Natal government medical service, caused by the sudden death of a
district surgeon in Victoria County, the most enterprising and rising
portion of the whole colony. The following morning, while taking
breakfast, two gentlemen, whom I afterward knew as large sugar planters
on the coast, joined the table and began talking over the events of the
week. “So he’s dead at last,” said one. “Yes, and who’ll take his place,
I wonder?” said the other. After some further conversation, I gathered
that the report I had heard of the sudden death of a doctor was correct,
and that it was about him they were conversing. The chief speaker
continued: “He made £700 a year, but could have made double if he’d
liked.” Hearing all this, I introduced myself and told them who I was,
when, with colonial frankness, they both strongly urged me to apply at
once to the government for the appointment.
I did not require to think twice over the matter, visions of £1,000 a
year at two-and-twenty floated temptingly before me, so deciding at
once, I determined to go to the capital, Pietermaritzburg, and see
Colonel Maclean, who was acting governor at the time. This I did next
day, and the colonel gave me the acting appointment.
Being anxious as quickly as possible to see the district and people
among whom, for at least a time, I had thrown my lot, immediately on my
return to D’Urban I lost no time in visiting Verulam, the chief town of
Victoria County, which was founded, I was told, in 1850 by a party of
Wesleyan pioneers. Riding four miles through terrible sand, I crossed
the Umgeni by a beautiful iron-girder bridge, afterward washed away by a
sudden rising of the river in August, 1868, passed Jackson’s coffee
estate and some extensive bush clearings, and then a few miles more
brought me to Lovatt’s well-known roadside inn. All the way to Verulam,
the place of my future residence, the landscape was studded near and far
with thick forests, interspersed with sugar and coffee plantations,
forming lovely little views; here and there, too, I could see smoke
curling up from the fires where the planters were burning the timber in
the forest, and many a time I halted my horse to watch around the
blazing logs the groups of lithe, active, happy natives, laughing,
singing and working by turn—a novel sight, indeed, to one accustomed to
English coldness and stolidity.
Leaving behind Lister’s pretty coffee trees and banana groves, Smerdon’s
mill and extensive sugar fields, I crossed the Umhlanga River, so named
by the Kafirs from the reeds on its banks, which nearly hide it from
view, and ascending a steep cutting along the side of a hill named
Kaht’s Kop, caught sight at last, at a turn of the road, of the village
of Verulam, lying snugly ensconced in a hollow among the hills on the
banks of the Umhloti River. Another mile brought me to my journey’s end.
Turning the sharp corner of a neglected graveyard, a pretty church on
one side of the road, and on the other a sweet little thatched cottage,
literally smothered with honeysuckles, and which I soon learned was the
parsonage, greeted my view.
Putting up my horse at the inn, I called and paid my respects to the
resident magistrate, Dr. Blaine, a member of my own profession. After
lunching with him, we walked round the village, and he introduced me to
the principal inhabitants, not omitting the worthy vicar, the Rev. W. A.
Elder, and his wife, who were kind enough to invite me to take up my
residence with them. A few more days saw me settled down, and I
commenced regular practice in the county on April 3d, 1865.
Sugar was at that time paying handsomely and coffee promising well, and
consequently good wages were given to native laborers; yet the planters,
although surrounded by a large Kafir population, were never able to rely
on obtaining a regular supply of labor, as the native was too
independent, the young men merely working until they were able to save
enough money to buy cattle sufficient to pay for a wife. The consequence
was that the planters, although surrounded by hundreds of thousands of
natives, had been compelled, about six years before my arrival, to
organize a system of coolie immigration from India. One of the
agreements they were obliged to enter into with the Indian government
was that regular medical supervision should be provided for all
immigrants; and to defray this cost, the planter was authorized to make
a deduction of one shilling a month from the wages of each coolie.
I soon became acquainted with all the planters in my division of the
county, and found that a regular visit once a month to each estate,
combined with the exigencies of a private practice, kept me busy, “week
in, week out, from morn till night.”
The planter of those days I found an excellent type of colonist. He was
generally a man of means, well educated, “a good fellow,” young, and
drawn from the English upper middle class. In some few individual cases
there might be a want of ballast, but colonial experience, soon gained,
supplied the deficiency. My range of practice extended from the cotton
company’s plantation at the Umhlali to Kennedy’s sugar estate on the
Umgeni River, a district forty-five miles long, and extending inland, as
a rule, about seven miles. Within this area I attended, as nearly as I
can remember, twenty-five estates, employing on an average 1,600
indentured coolies. When, after a long absence, I visited Verulam this
year, I found matters greatly altered. Hospitals had been built there
and at Avoca, a village some twelve miles distant, to which any
important cases from the surrounding estates were sent. My old district
had been divided into three medical circles, with three doctors to do
the work which I used to do single-handed.
[Illustration]