ANOTHER HOSPITABLE ENGLISHMAN. 237 



Next day we trecked to another Englishman's. He 

 was a tall, handsome, grey-haired man of fifty. He 

 received me most hospitably, and introduced me to his 

 Dutch wife and numerous progeny. Examining my 

 wagon, he found that one of the wheels was working 

 on the axle, so brought his screw-jack, removed it, and 

 cut out a washer from the hide of a giraffe, to be placed 

 inside the hub to prevent further friction. After per- 

 forming this service, which occupied over an hour, and 

 in which he got himself considerably smeared with 

 ante-friction grease, he sent me a present of six large 

 fowls, two large baskets of peaches, and the same of 

 apples, with quite an extensive assortment of onions, 

 tomatoes, &c. &c. 



To offer to pay for them I knew I could not, with- 

 out offending; so I thought, what could I spare that 

 would be useful ? His boots were shabby, and I had a 

 large stock, so I gave him a pair of new ones, reaching 

 to the knee, with a strong pair of Latchford spurs 

 attached. He would have declined, but I insisted ; 

 when he did not hesitate to tell me that, of all things 

 he wanted, a pair of English boots were his greatest 

 ambition ; for since he had been in the country, nothing 

 but felt shoon had decorated his feet. 



Before parting, I gave him a silver-mounted briar- 

 root pipe, such as would cost at home eight or ten 

 shillings ; but, not to be outdone in generosity, just as 

 we commenced trecking, one of his youngsters drove up 

 a nice heifer, in full milk, as a parting gift from his 

 sire. I was the gainer in the transactions that had 

 taken place, but I had used no artifice to be so ; and I 

 am certain many a year will roll by before the memory 

 of this pleasant meeting is effaced. 



