168 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



bolted when within a few days of here. I rode back 

 many miles in search of him, but was unsuccessful. The 

 vicinity of the Diamond-fields was too great a temptation 

 for his ^principles, and he gave us the slip, for there 

 wages were at sensation prices. He was not much 

 loss, for he was an eye-serving scamp, and a little 

 pilferer to boot. 



Thus we have arrived in Potschef strom with a driver, 

 the man engaged at Eland river, Jim and Umganey. 

 Among our cattle and other animals, I am thankful to 

 say, we have suffered no loss. 



On the morrow, at an early hour, Morris and self 

 went into the town to find out the leading physician; they 

 all, three in number, occupied this position, so we inter- 

 viewed them in succession. After this, my friend preferred 

 placing himself in my hands as to treatment and advice; 

 I wished to persuade him otherwise, but he would not 

 listen to the arguments I could use to the contrary. 

 Certainly I must say that the doctors of Potschefstrom 

 were a rough-looking lot, and by choice I should much 

 sooner have trusted a cow in their hands than myself ; 

 in saying this it must be remembered that a change 

 for the better may have taken place since I was there. 

 After our visit to the town we had a consultation, 

 and I emphatically insisted that the sooner he went 

 home the better. To this there was much opposition, 

 but ultimately I carried the day. 



That evening Morris left me by the mail cart for 

 the Diamond-fields, a journey of over 400 miles ; there 

 there was communication with Port Elizabeth twice 

 a week by Cobb and Co/s coaches. So, with luck, he 

 might reach the coast in twelve days, or possibly be 

 back in England in little over six weeks. 



