PURCHASE OF PETS. 211 



on the road to Jacobsdal. This is a fair specimen of 

 the improvidence of many of these people who possess 

 Hottentot blood. 



I found it a difficult matter to obtain a suitable 

 driver, although many applied for the situation ; so I 

 sent to Jacobsdal and the neighbouring farms to make 

 public my requirement. 



In the meantime, I held a board on my oxen ; four 

 of them I determined to part with, for they had indicated 

 a tendency to footsoreness, and had become very thin. 

 As they were young and well-bred, I found no difficulty 

 in effecting an exchange for a similar number of power- 

 ful animals, but the strangers were such clumsy coarse 

 brutes that they entirely destroyed the symmetry of 

 my team. 



As I was alone, and not likely now to meet travellers, 

 to break the monotony of my halts, also procured as 

 pets a goat, monkey, and cat. The first had to be 

 driven for two or three days, the others took to their new 

 life at once. Pussy became a great favourite slept in 

 my bed, kept Jacko in order, and, in fact, had a voice 

 in all matters that were going on. She became a firm 

 ally of the dogs, and always with them attended my 

 meals. Some poultry were also obtained, but they, poor 

 things, were intended for the pot. 



I soon knew all the people in Zeerust. Mr. Eeed, 

 owner of the Niccoti Winkle, invited me to take my 

 meals with him, consequently I met all visitors, and 

 was introduced to the wealth, beauty, and fashion of 

 the community. The great subject of conversation, 

 also of indignation, that excited the minds of this distant 

 village, was the conduct of Kama, king of the Bechuanas, 

 who had refused to permit any Boers to hunt in his 

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