VI

THE CHARTERED COMPANY’S GOLDFIELDS (a) In Matabeleland

By August last upwards of 51,000 claims had been pegged out and registered in Matabe­leland and Mashonaland, upon which all fees had been paid. These claims placed side by side would form a belt of 1,400 miles in length, a fact which will srive some idea of the extent

C

of the goldfields. Of these, 15,000 claims were pegged out in Matabeleland within six months of the occupation, and new reefs are being con­tinually discovered.

Glowing as are the accounts of rich finds that reach us from Matabeleland, I doubt whether they are exaggerated, as a rule; but of course up till now a limited amount of deve­lopment has been done, few shafts have yet