Boyhocd Days in Natal 19 



and snow drifts. The farmers and Kaffirs lost 

 heavily in stock, and the whole country was full of 

 dead birds and small game. The snow in the low 

 country melted after several days ; but the mountains 

 were covered for months. The locations of Hezikali, 

 Putini, and Langalebaleli along the foot hills 

 of the Drakensberg under Cathkin Peak, Giants 

 Castle and Mont aux Sources, are in grand country. 

 To watch the thunder storms gather in these moun- 

 tains, (12,000 feet high) and travel eastwards over 

 Natal is a treat indeed for those who love nature as 

 I do. 



My grandfather sent some money to buy a farm 

 for Alex, and me, and my father bought one near the 

 Tugela, and named it " Ruitenburg " after an old 

 castle in Europe. The land joined Pieter's Hill on 

 the South East and Wagonhill on the North West, 

 where afterwards there was such hard fighting in 

 the 1899 - 1902 Boer War. I farmed the place after 

 a fashion but did not make much of it. We made a 

 winding path through a beautiful grove of trees 

 along the hill, with a summer house at the end for 

 our dear mother, but I feel sad when I remember 

 how little she was able to enjoy it, her health being 

 so bad. We built a large house of free stone cut by 

 German workmen. I hear that since the war the 

 place is in ruins. We sold it years ago. 



Alex, and I used to have delightful rides among 

 the mountains on wiry little Kaffir ponies hired by 

 the day. There was splendid fishing in the clear 

 mountain rivers and we bathed so much that we all 

 became expert swimmers. I have caught golden 

 carp in the upper reaches of the Tugela, the 

 14 Umlambonja " and " Minnowenu " up to 10, 11 and 

 12}/ Ibs. The Natal rivers are now stocked with 

 trout. 



