"NO SERVANT." 237 



took his wages, and never returned, which did 

 not much surprise me, but I was surprised that 

 no other Kafir appeared asking for work. 



It was a busy insect season, my horse too 

 was an invalid, requiring daily lotions and oint- 

 ments, and day after day passed without a sign 

 of a Kafir seeking employment, I sent in all 

 directions, but could get no help at all. I had 

 to light the fire with green sticks, for I was not 

 strong enough to wield the axe and chop the 

 block of firewood, the tears streaming down my 

 face from the green wood smoke, cook the food 

 for myself and pets (five days we lived on boiled 

 beans alone, which became slightly monotonous), 

 make the hay, clean the stable and horse, the 

 latter a most pleasant occupation, though rather 

 fatiguing. All this I had to do in addition to 

 my manifold insect duties and outdoor occupa- 

 tions ; but it is astonishing how life in Africa 

 without a full purse makes one find out what 

 one can do, and, still more, what one can do 

 without ; and whatever my hardships I have 







always four real pleasures daily the early 



