394 A FARMER'S YEAR 



full of half-digested food. Suddenly it ceases eating, and stands 

 awhile \Yith a hanging head, after which it lies down, and about 

 five hours later expires. I have myself seen cases of African horse- 

 sickness run their course with equal swiftness, but I presume that, 

 in both instances the fatal germs have been at work for some days, 

 although they make no outward show. This, however, is pure 

 conjecture, whereof the truth or falsity could only be proved by 

 a frequent testing of the temperature of the animal, if, indeed, 

 this precaution would sufiice to establish the fact. 



Although in the 1890 epidemic, in addition to the buffalo, 

 eland, giraffe, lesser kudoo, and wart-hog died in great numbers 

 throughout East Africa, curiously enough, so far as can be ascer- 

 tained, the last outbreak does not seem to have affected these 

 animals. 



November 16. — Yesterday I received a cheque value 7/. 12^-., 

 being the net amount due to me for prizes taken at the Lothing- 

 land Agricultural Show. This sum, after deducting the expenses 

 to which we were put in sending the animals for exhibition, I 

 propose to divide among Hood, his wife, Moore, and the men 

 and boys who were employed in looking after the cattle. 



The weather is very damp and quiet, and we are now engaged 

 in getting off the mangolds on Baker's, No 44. 



As he showed no signs of recovery, the old Southdown tup, 

 which, as I think I have said, was injured by a rival ram some time 

 ago, was despatched yesterday to graze in the Elysian fields. His 

 mortal remains are now being distributed among the farm 

 labourers at a cost of threepence the pound, and I dare say that, if 

 boiled long enough, they will make very good soup. Although 

 his shoulder is found to have been dislocated, it cannot have 

 troubled the creature much, or prevented him from feeding, as his 

 condition is good. 



Two pigs have accompanied him to the Shades. A pig is the 

 only animal which looks more attractive dead than alive ; then, for 

 the first time in his guzzling career, he is white, cool and clean. 



