262 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



to bear upon him, lie had disappeared ; however, the 

 fish refused further to be taken, or else, fearing the 

 interloper, had departed for other haunts. 



About four the ladies joined us ; Umganey was in 

 great form, and soon produced an admirable cup of 

 coffee for each, while a tin of fancy biscuits was handed 

 round. Having allowed sufficient time for these good 

 things to be consumed, as a piece de resistance a bottle 

 of sugar-plums was brought forth. The way the dear 

 creatures took to them was charming, and how they 

 disappeared was marvellous. 



However, the young mother was called away to 

 attend to the wants of her progeny, but the sister-in- 

 law remained. I have so often spoken of fat Boer girls 

 that I am almost ashamed again to allude to the 

 subject, and will therefore go no further than to say 

 that the belle of our party was no exception to the rule 

 that seems to govern her race in this part of the 

 world. 



At last the young lady became tired of inactivity, 

 and wandered along by the river's margin. She might 

 have thought such charming rustic occupation would 

 entitle her to the attention of a swain ; but I could not 

 speak her language, the young trader did not evidently 

 believe in love-making, so she was allowed to proceed 

 alone. She might have left us ten minutes probably, 

 not more, when we heard a shriek so loud and piercing 

 that each picked up his rifle and rushed towards the 

 girl. What on earth could be the matter ? Perfectly 

 still, she stood gazing at something. 



The race was to the swiftest, the brother-in-law was 

 first by her side ; next instant his heavy elephant-rifle 

 was at his shoulder, the report echoed away in the 



