22 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



characterising his address. But the " keeper of stray 

 cattle " was not to be caught, and poor Holly was 

 ever left lamenting. 



I have mentioned the number of clergymen we had 

 on board. They belonged to every sect and denomina- 

 tion, and doubtless were all sincere, earnest men. 

 One a curate going out to Bloemfontein I liked 

 immensely. He was a gentleman by birth and 

 education, charitable, warm-hearted, energetic; the 

 Episcopalians having service every morning in the 

 saloon, he read prayers daily, and I do not think I 

 once missed attendance during the whole voyage. 

 However, there was one reverend gentleman I did not 

 take so great a fancy to ; and that I had grounds for 

 doing so all will acknowledge, when I state the following 

 fact. The cook had obtained permission to make a pilau 

 a la Chinoise for me. I helped myself, and was handing 

 it to my companions, when the enemy stole up from the 

 foot of the table unawares, seized the dish and carried it 

 off in triumph. Still, there might have been time for a 

 coup de main rescue if prompt steps had been taken, but 

 we were all too much surprised to attempt anything 

 till the whole enough for six Grenadiers was divided 

 between himself and wife. It is but right to say he 

 was a Dutchman. 



Certainly, in all my previous experience, I never 

 sailed in a ship with so many oddities we overflowed 

 with them ; and they were good-natured withal, and at 

 times intensely amusing. It would be scarcely fair to 

 pass these good people without mentioning a loving 

 couple who sat opposite us at table. Their names were 

 Crommy and the wife was all the name expresses. 

 Report said she had been married four times, and that 



