A RACE WITH A KAFFIR. 117 



picked from the flock, and taken up to our own kraal 

 in charge of our Kaffir, John. 



The Boer party consists of father, mother, two 

 sons, and a daughter. The paterfamilias is a tall, 

 loose-limbed, heavy man, of drabby-brown com- 

 plexion, and sun-tanned, hay-coloured hair, and is 

 clad in broad-brimmed felt-hat, decorated with a 

 feather or two, short coat, flannel shirt, loose 

 trousers, and veldt-schoons made of soft, home- 

 tanned leather, with the hair outside. The sons are 

 much of the same pattern, and they all bear a heavy 

 somewhat sullen expression on their countenances. 



The vrouw is a sunburnt, stout old lady, wearing 

 on her head a tight cap or kerchief, surmounted by 

 a large straw hat, and attired in a frock of heavy, 

 rough material. Her daughter is rather more 

 presentable, but is by no means of surpassing 

 beauty. Her we do not see much of, as she sits 

 far back in the waggon, shaded by the tilt. None of 

 the party are of the cleanest ; in fact it is a debatable 

 question whether Boers, from the cradle to the 

 grave, ever do indulge in the luxury of a bath 

 on the whole, probably, the " No's " would have it. 



Their cargo consists of oranges, dried peaches 

 and quinces, walnuts, Boer brandy, and Boer 

 tobacco. They appear by no means eager to 

 trade, and we have great difficulty in getting them to 

 open the great hide bags in which they keep part of 

 their stores. However, after sampling the brandy, 

 things become a little brisker ; we purchase some 

 200 oranges, a quantity of the tobacco at three- 

 pence per pound, and some brandy and dried 

 fruits. Our host and his brother, as conversation 

 becomes more lively, and a little banter is 



