October. 229 



and especially of cast-off uniforms ; for they dearly love a 

 bit of colour. October, at that time, affected a garb which 

 was a cross between that of a cowboy and of a costermonger. 

 He had on an enormous slouch hat, smart jacket brightened 

 up with bits of gay ribbon, scarlet sash round his waist, 

 moleskin trousers, tight down to the knee, and from that 

 opened out like bells over his No. 19 boots. After the break- 

 ing was over, I took him back with me to the hotel, and 

 engaged him as my servant at 6 a month. It was not likely 

 that I should miss securing such a treasure as I recognised 

 him to be. Brave, big-hearted October was destined to be 

 my faithful companion through many adventures. He was 

 always the same willing, devoted helper. Nothing that I 

 could do or say would make the slightest difference in his 

 dog-like affection for the * baas ' he loved. Of all the men I 

 have ever met, had I to choose one to be my companion 

 in danger against man or beast, I would select October ; 

 for he knew no fear, and would do anything I told him. 

 He was a man of simple tastes, and needed for amusement, 

 after the day's work was done, only a bottle of dop (Cape 

 brandy) which he would drink with one of his vrows, of whom 

 he appeared to keep a relay at every place we went to. 

 Not wanting the whitey-brown boy for ornament, I paid him 

 up, and saw him no more. 



At Craddock, I met a fine specimen of an English Cape 

 farmer in Mr Hilton Barber. He has a farm of over 100,000 

 acres, on which, among other things, he raises ostriches and 

 racehorses. He is fond of the great game and is a good 

 sportsman. The custom in South Africa is to have immense 

 farms ; anything under 50,000 acres being considered a small 

 one. A Boer does not feel comfortable if he can see from 

 his own house the smoke from any other man's chimney- 

 Fortunately, the ambition to be a large landed proprietor 

 in that part of the world can be easily gratified ; for land 

 can be bought right out for from half-a-crown an acre, and 

 upwards. Owing to want of water, much of the land is 



