188 . ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



Punt, situated a long marcli higher up the river, there 

 to cross and join me in Colesberg on the evening of the 

 following day ; and having breakfasted, I saddled " The 

 Immense Brute," and, taking the ford high up, managed 

 to cross the river in safety, the current having twice 

 taken my horse off his legs. In two hours I entered 

 the village of. Colesberg, where I found the officers of 

 the 91st and all my other friends in great force." 



My wagons did not make their appearance in Coles- 

 berg until the afternoon of the third day. I took up 

 my quarters with my old friend Mr. Paterson, who also 

 kindly accommodated the half of my stud in his stables, 

 and the other half I picketed in the stables of my old 

 regiment, the Cape Mounted Rifles. My oxen I per- 

 mitted to run day and night in the neighboring mount- 

 ains. On the 7th we off-loaded the wagons, and made 

 a grand parade of my heads and hunting trophies in 

 front of Paterson's house, which was situated in the 

 center of the village : this attracted crowds of persons 

 throughout the day. In the afternoon of the 8th, Mr.- 

 Rawstorne, the resident magistrate, received dispatches 

 from Adam Kok, chief of the Bastards, stating that the 

 Boers had commenced active hostilities, and craving 

 assistance from government. Accordingly, in the even- 

 ing, an order was issued that all the available force in 

 the garrison should march upon the Orange River next 

 day. This I considered an intense bore, as I should 

 thereby lose the society of all my friends. On the fol- 

 lowing morning all was bustle and preparation through- 

 out the village, the military preparing for the march, 

 and the merchants loading up their wagons with com- 

 missariat for the supply of the troops, while many a 

 dark-eyed nymph wiped the hot tear from her'express- 

 ive eye, and heaved a deep-drawn sigh as she reflect 



