116 NATURE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA 



having retired from that exhilarating profession, had 

 settled down soberly under the Queen's Government : 

 such were the heterogeneous elements attracted by 

 that universal loadstone of mankind — sport. 



Here were no gay pinks, no snowy breeches, well- 

 groomed hats, or spotless tops. Most of us sheltered 

 beneath the broad-brimmed felt hat common to 

 South Africa, tweeds, cords, khaki, and any boots, 

 gaiters, or other foot and leg gear obtainable in these 

 regions. Primmer, the huntsman, looked workman- 

 like enough in the garb of the Border Police, of 

 which he was once a trooper. His yellow-brown 

 cord tunic and breeches, broad hat, brailed up on 

 one side in true B.B.P.^ fashion, and decorated with 

 the gay silk scarf denoting the particular troop in 

 which he served, would perhaps strike horror at an 

 English covert-side, yet for the African veldt they 

 were well enough in keeping. At all events, hounds 

 seemed to regard their huntsman as keenly and 

 affectionately as if he were clad in regulation pink, 

 velvet cap, and irreproachable boots and breeches. 



We had out some six or seven couples only. They 

 were a moderately level lot, and included a few really 

 good hounds. All were of English blood — mainly 

 from the Bedale, Holderness, Cotswold, and Isle of 

 Wight strains — bred at Mafeking, where the kennels 

 then were. We now trotted away up the road lead- 



1 Becliuanaland Border Police. 



