270 THE TROUT ARE RISING 



folk were in possession, and an array of snowy linen 

 on the bank testified to strenuous hours. It recalled 

 an incident of old Severn days, when one of our 

 party, arrived at a promising spot only to find a 

 washerwoman in possession, inquired if there were 

 not other places in the river where she could do 

 her washing, only to receive in reply the poser : 

 " And aren't there plenty of other places where 

 you can do your fishing ?" 



It is good to see such a river perennial, too 

 as the Wildebeeste. Free from bushes, it was 

 easy to fish, though no better in this respect than 

 the Mooi of Natal. Current and colour were 

 alike good, and already we felt glad at having 

 trusted to the " spritely infusion." Nevertheless, 

 three or four days' fishing yielded but little sport, 

 though an hour before sunset small rainbows rose 

 freely at practically any wet fly. However, new 

 fishing grounds were calling to us from Maclear ; 

 so, with Ugie held in reserve for a return visit, off 

 we went by the winding railway to Maclear, well 

 known to Witwatersrand mining circles as a 

 recruiting dep6t for native labour. Two 'buses 

 plied for patrons of the two hotels at Maclear. 

 Long mail-cart journeys by road are a feature of 

 the country. We had been lucky at Ugie in 

 meeting anglers and the same luck was with us at 

 Maclear. Incidentally we met a rector, a Devon- 

 shire man, in whom was a love of all men, 

 especially fishermen. This good man was indeed 

 helpful. At the same time we met a descendant, 

 Manley by name, of the settlers of 1820 (Eastern 



