June 25 Thursday – The Clemens party and agent Smythe left Port Elizabeth on the train at 11:50 a.m. and traveled the 106 miles to Grahamstown, arriving at 7 p.m. Their average speed was but fifteen miles an hour. On the way Sam noted a lot of ostriches in the fields. On their arrival they were “most pleasantly welcomed by the Irish parish priest,” unnamed [Philippon 22; Parsons, “Traveler in S.A.” 29].

Parsons writes,

On this leg of his journey, Twain arrived too late for the once-a-week Feather Market in Town Hall, but there were compensations in a “beautiful town & well built; with broad straight streets. Is cultured; has a library.” Besides its avenues and roads, lined with oaks, gums, pines, and blackwoods, Grahamstown had a 100-acre Botanic Garden and the reputation — at least locally — of being “the healthiest place in the country” and “a favourite resort of lovers of the beautiful in Nature.” ….Rickshas could also be hired [“Traveler in S.A.” 30].

Carlyle G. Smythe turned down guaranteed lecture houses in Graff-Reinet and Uitenhage, as Sam’s schedule would not allow for additions now [Philippon 22].