SUCCESSFUL DIPLOMACY. 77 



pervade the assembly. Oh, how diplomatic we be- 

 come when absolutely necessary when we find that our 

 object is to be accomplished by no other means ! 

 After coffee each was furnished with a double soupje 

 of rum about twenty above proof. They were ex- 

 cellent fellows, and the spokesman asked me in the 

 name of the others for my father and mother, espe- 

 cially their ages, how my frow was, and the number 

 of kinderkins (children) I was parent of. 



I knew that the Boers were great lovers of children, 

 and admired large families, so I was guilty of the decep- 

 tion of telling them twenty. 



Another little soupje they were such good men 

 they must take it, it was pure and unadulterated ; and 

 they complied. Again the assistance was alluded to, 

 still there was hesitation, so I hastened to the last in- 

 telligible resource, gold, and held up between my fore- 

 finger and thumb a sovereign. It worked like a charm, 

 the old skimmel-pin was extracted, the orifice in which 

 it lodged was partially filled with gravel, so as to make 

 a part of the broken pin answer temporarily, the bed of 

 the wagon replaced in its proper position, and the front 

 wheels removed on to firm ground. Then their Kaffirs 

 were called up, the loading commenced with vigour, 

 all assisted, I myself working as if life and death 

 depended on the expedition with which it was accom- 

 plished ; and to my unutterable joy I managed, after 

 another soupje^ to get two of my heaviest cases stowed 

 upon their wagons. 



The cattle were then put in the yoke, and, to his 

 surprise, I met Morris just as he was leaving Mooi Eiver 

 with a new skimmel-pin. 



