A SPOILT CHILD. I 75 



body. In my belief, it was nothing more or less than 

 "pure cussedness." For a long time after being 

 brought into camp it would not feed, and indig- 

 nantly rejected the most enticing twigs and boughs, 

 casting them scornfully aside ; but I looked forward 

 to hunger effecting two radical cures in the juvenile's 

 disposition — an appetite, and after that submission to 

 captivity. 



Inside the laager its movements were somewhat 

 restricted, but at night it was the only place of safety 

 we possessed. However, during the day it was led 

 forth for water and an airing, and afterwards picketed 

 to a tree in our immediate vicinity. In a few days the 

 little beast commenced to recognise me as a friend, 

 but still showed great antipathy to the darkies ; this 

 possibly resulted from their having to do all the 

 hauling about that was requisite in removing the 

 captive from place to place. Now that my people 

 knew that I wanted to preserve the animal's life, 

 they showed it great kindness, and put up good- 

 naturedly with the numerous knocks they received. 

 Our novel pet was a constant source of amusement 

 to every one, its ways being so eccentric and 

 petulant that it constantly reminded me of a 

 spoilt child, although I am convinced it was not 

 possessed of half the destructive propensities of the 

 majority of the children of our race. In particular- 

 ising white children, I mean what I express, for 

 the immature Kaffirs, or Zulus, are paragons in 



