IN WANT OF A DRIVER. 61 



Our attendants, all Zulus, who had without excep- 

 tion been engaged by Holly, were a most inexperienced 

 lot, and consequently very unsuited to our work ; 

 possibly if they had been in the employment of skilful 

 drivers they might have been licked into shape, but we 

 were deficient of the necessary ability to do so, therefore 

 we weeded them, retaining only two, one a f oreloper, and 

 the other a kind of useful lad, half cook, half body 

 servant. 



If Holly had taken the most simple precaution, or 

 the advice that had been offered him, he would have 

 gone to the Government agency, and we should doubt- 

 less have obtained suitable men, and at proper wages ; 

 " but a wilful man must have his way," professing, as 

 he did, that he knew all about Kaffirs that at sight he 

 could tell a good one from a bad one he had engaged 

 all the worthless scum that were idling about Maritz- 

 burg, looking Micawber-like for chances to turn up. 

 Thus we were without a driver the most important 

 person of the party. From Howick we sent word in all 

 directions to Kaffir kraals and neighbouring villages 

 that a driver was required, and that, to a competent 

 person, large wages would be paid. Still no candidates 

 presented themselves ; the season was slipping on ; our 

 horses were eating their heads off at livery, and our 

 dogs, although well-fed, were ravaging the country far 

 and wide to gratify their insatiable appetite. 



Another feature was, that unknown and suspicious - 

 looking cattle-dealers were ever unexpectedly arriving at 

 the hotel, and miraculously disappearing from it ; but I 

 soon learned the business of these worthies it was to 

 prevent our obtaining aid, make Howick the termination 

 of our African trip, and force us to sell off our posses- 



