188 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



tered was small and poorly furnished, but 

 scrupulously clean. The thong-bottomed sofa 

 and chairs were evidently home-made; al- 

 though rough in point of workmanship they 

 were strong and comfortable. The walls were 

 garnished with illuminated Bible texts and 

 portraits of the Royal Family. The floor was 

 of clay; the thatch of the roof could be seen 

 through a gridiron of rafters. 



Mr. Hein took the head of the table and 

 played the host to perfection. We had evi- 

 dently been expected, — but how information 

 as to our projected visit could have reached 

 Kuboos, was more than I could fathom. How- 

 ever, we sat at the hospitable board and re- 

 galed ourselves with excellent coffee, rye bread 

 and honey. The members of the family, — two 

 fairly young men and two middle-aged dam- 

 sels, — joined us. Mrs. Hein was, alas, no 

 more. She had died under a weight of years, 

 so we were informed, a few months previously. 

 The sons and daughters were darker in hue 

 than their father. They were obviously ill at 

 ease before us, strangers. 



The host kept the conversational ball roll- 

 ing without an effort. Andries was patheti- 

 cally puzzled; the situation had got beyond 

 him. He was as prejudiced on the Colour 



