THE SHERIFF OF MAPICO. 195 



experienced among the Boers before. But these people 

 had one grievance, and that a serious one : the wolves 

 (hyaenas) were destroying their cattle wholesale ; even 

 the night before they had killed three donkeys, and 

 several goats and sheep. Had I any poison with me, 

 and if so would I sell it ? they inquired. Unfortunately 

 I had not, or I should have willingly supplied the drug 

 for the destruction of these pests of the stock-farmer. 

 All the people here appeared well-to-do ; our country- 

 man acknowledged that there was no difficulty in 

 earning a living, but he feared it would be a long time 

 before he got rich. 



A smart little man on horseback came up ; his dress 

 and bearing denoted him a person of position in the 

 community ; he possessed a fair smattering of English, 

 and appeared disposed to be very friendly. On inquiry 

 he turned out to be the sheriff of the district of Marico, 

 in pursuit of a defaulter. He expressed a great wish for 

 me to have the saddle put on my horse and accompany 

 him to Zeerust ; and much as I should like to have done 

 so, if for no other reason than to gain his friendship, I 

 was obliged to decline, as from past experience I had 

 learned too well how fatal deserting my attendants had 

 always proved. 



We trecked that evening and next morning over a 

 most villanous road, and arrived about 9 a.m. (Sunday) 

 at a capital camping-ground, in the middle of which 

 was a large pond, and at the further end of the water 

 two dwellings and several out-houses. 



As it is the custom in the Transvaal, I sent Jacob 

 for permission to outspan ; soon he returned with the 

 request granted, accompanied by the proprietor. 



This man was a character if ever there was one. 

 N 2 



