234 Among Men and Horses. 



Transvaal war, they have very friendly feelings towards the 

 English. They are fond of horses and pay a good deal of 

 attention to breeding. 



From Bloemfontein I went to Colesberg, which, though 

 only a village, is the capital of the best horse-breeding dis- 

 trict in Cape Colony. Hearing that my teaching was well 

 worth the two guineas a head I was charging for it, all the 

 young farmers of the place trooped in and paid their money. 

 I had lots of good subjects, and left behind me a large num- 

 ber of expert horsebreakers, who, I know, will remember 

 their old instructor with kindly feelings for many a year. I 

 must say that I have never met men more anxious to 

 learn sound, practical work about horses than these young 

 South African farmers. Having been outrageously swindled 

 time after time by so-called Englishmen, who are mostly 

 east-end Jews, the Boers naturally regard every man who 

 speaks English as a thief. But if one is fortunate enough to 

 gain their confidence, they will give it entirely without reserve. 



At Colesberg I had the pleasure of meeting the Van Zeils, 

 who are wealthy landowners and great lovers of horses, and 

 Alec Robertson of Stormfontein, who goes in largely for the 

 breeding of thoroughbreds, and with capital results. He and 

 Mr Homan, another rare good sportsman, owned Candlemas, 

 who is full brother of St Blaise. Although Candlemas was a 

 terribly bad roarer, all his stock are sound in their wind. 

 The same can be said of the * noisy ' Belladrum, who after 

 winning the Two Thousand Guineas was sent out to the Cape 

 for breeding purposes. His produce did no good ; as they 

 almost all turned out light in bone and were weedy. I may 

 remark that roaring, although common in damp, cold climates, 

 is practically unknown in dry warm ones like South Africa, 

 India, and Arabia. It is far less frequent in Australasia than 

 at home. Big horses are more liable to it than small ones ; 

 and grain-fed animals, than those which are restricted to grass. 

 From Colesberg I went to Kimberley, at which place I had 

 arranged for my wife to meet me. 



