At the commencement of the present year some considerable interest was excited at Cape Town through the announcement in the newspapers that coal had been discovered at the Cape, and pronounced by reputed competent authorities to be of very good quality. Very soon afterwards it was reported, however, that it was not coal but peat, or lignite, and of bad quality; but still the newspapers persisted in calling it “The Coal diggings.” I heard of the discovery on my first arrival at Cape Town, in April last, and resolved to visit the spot at the first opportunity. In the meantime I obtained some information, and also the name of the person who was super intending the working, and on April 24th went to the Klapmuts Station on the Cape Town and Wellington Railway, and walked across to the Joostenberg workings, about five miles from the station.