236 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



the water being on the road was public property, that 

 my beasts were parched with thirst and must drink, and 

 if they wanted to do any shooting, they had but to 

 let me know when they intended commencing. After 

 this speech they gave place, and the oxen drank to 

 their hearts' content. 



However, the affair was not yet settled ; in half an 

 hour the Boers returned, considerably reinforced, and 

 clamorously demanded to see me. Hifle in hand, I 

 presented myself. At first I dreaded an attack, and all 

 my boys and attaches, except the driver, seized their 

 assegais and came to my support. This demonstration 

 might have been the cause, for immediately afterwards 

 negotiations were opened which terminated in peace, 

 and my late foes imbibed as much of my coffee as they 

 could comfortably carry, while the veterans of the party 

 joined me in a soupje of brandy. Then all shook hands, 

 and we were sworn friends for life. This habit of 

 shaking hands is quite a nuisance among the Dutch 

 descendants in South Africa. Whether their paws 

 are clean or dirty, whether they know you or not, they 

 do it, and would feel mortally offended if you refused. 

 Supposing you are in a store ; a Boer enters ; he first 

 shakes hands with the proprietors, and then with all 

 the customers ; whether he has seen them before or 

 not is quite immaterial. 



The result of hostilities being avoided was that the 

 entire community, froivs and kinderkins, visited me, and 

 a fearful diminution of my stock of candy and fancy 

 biscuits ensued. It is extraordinary how public opinion 

 will change. From being a mortal enemy, I had become 

 most popular. My flesh-pots might have had much 

 to do in this revolution of feeling. 



