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ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



On the 13th I left Colesberg, and set out on my way 

 to Grahamstov/n, passing on the 17th the Thebus flats. 

 On the march I saddled up, and, leavuig the wagons, 

 rode across the country for Hendric Strydom's farm, 

 where I had commenced ray sporthig career in South 

 Africa. As I rode across the flats I found springbok 

 and black wildebeest still abundant. On reaching the 

 residence of my former friend, I found the blackness of 

 desolation pictured there. The house was falling to 

 pieces, and the grass grew rank where the pot was 

 wont to boil. In a melancholy mood, I then turned ray 

 face for the farm where I had ordered my wagons to 

 halt ; and, as I rode along, I mused on the fleeting and 

 transient nature of all human condition. On the 25th 

 I reached Fort Beaufort, where I dined with some old 

 acquaintances at the mess of the 7th. 



On the 29th we marched to the Fish River at dawn 

 of day. Here I found about sixty wagons waiting the 

 falling of the river to get through. Some of us set to 

 work to clear away a bank of mud on the opposite side, 

 after which a good many wagons, lightly laden, cross- 

 ed the river ; but on attempting to bring through my 

 large wagon, she stuck fast, and was at length extri- 

 cated with the help of another span. We saved her 

 just in time, for the riv^er was increasing fast when we 

 got her out, and in another half hour was running a 

 rapid torrent, at least ten feet deep. I found several 

 vrry jolly farmers, English and Scotch, lying on the 

 opposite side ; in particular, one Anneslcy, of whom I 

 had heard a great deal. This man was a regular 

 "brick," a thorough Scotsman from the borders. He 

 came up to me at once, and asked me to come and 

 have a glass of whisky with him: he was accompanied 

 by his family ; his eldest daughter was a very line girl 



