AN HOSPITABLE ENGLISHMAN. 233 



dense timber. At the last ford we stuck for nearly half 

 an hour, and as it was by this time dark, we out- 

 spanned soon after getting free. I was cautioned about 

 this locality, as it frequently harboured lions, and a more 

 liony place it would be difficult to find, so I had large 

 fires made, and visited them twice during the night to 

 see that they were kept up. 



During the next day I shot two stein-buck, beautiful 

 little animals about the size of Scotch roe-deer, but 

 much lighter in colour. They were a welcome addition 

 to our larder, for the stock of beef laid in at Zeerust 

 has rapidly diminished with so many mouths to feed, 

 and as to the consumption of mealy meal, it is really 

 alarming. This is supposed to be the staple of your 

 people's food, and should always be looked carefully 

 after ; if not it is sure to be wasted. Without a supply 

 of it you cannot get on, and as it is dear, it adds much 

 to the expenses of travelling by wagon. 



This evening we reached a farmhouse. The pro- 

 prietor was an Englishman, and entertained me most 

 hospitably, besides sending to the wagon a quantity of 

 milk, rusk, and beltong. His nearest neighbour is 

 another countryman, about twenty miles north, and for 

 months together he sees no stranger but an occasional 

 passing Kaffir. Game abounds around him at some 

 seasons ; but, unless to supply his table and to keep 

 them from invading his corn, he does not trouble them. 



What an example this is for the Boers ! I can 

 assure the reader and even then it is difficult to believe 

 that any Christian could be guilty of such conduct 

 that I have seen them practise with their rifles upon 

 bless-buck and spring-buck, leaving the carcases to rot 

 upon the plain. 



