202 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



addresses to the lady of his choice. From what I could 

 make out, the deformed man was a person of no small 

 importance in the community; the possessor of all 

 family secrets that existed in the neighbourhood ; was 

 acquainted with all the eligible young ladies far and 

 wide ; and could tell to a stiver how much money and 

 how many head of cattle each would receive as dowry 

 on the day she committed matrimony. Further, he 

 undertook the duty of envoy in such delicate affairs 

 with unparalleled success ; and his services were in much 

 request by the beaux of the country. 



Voluntarily he informed me that, although as a rule 

 Boer men did not like Englishmen, Boer women did; 

 and that he could find a wife for me, and that without 

 much delay, if I resolved to remain in the country. In 

 fact, he knew at that moment a young lady, very pretty, 

 very fascinating, very rich, and (making a motion with 

 his arms so as to infer that to clasp her round the waist 

 would be an impossibility) so big. 



Expressing a doubt of the propriety of getting mar- 

 ried, he had an answer ready. There was no hurry 

 oh, not the least ! but when I had been in Zeerust a few 

 days I would change my mind, particularly if I attended 

 preaching next Sunday, where I would see the charmer. 



My new acquaintances seemed pleased with my 

 company, so made no effort to leave me behind ; thus, 

 when it got time to outspan, I asked them to accept 

 my hospitality. This they at once consented to, and 

 so, as I had an abundance of game, coffee, and other 

 good things, the supper passed off most pleasantly if 

 I except a playful mannerism the deformed man had of 

 placing his fingers in the soup in search of tit-bits, and 

 then wiping them by shoving them in his mouth, from 



