of Diamond Field* and Early Kimberley Days 155 



to Europe to have it cut, after many expenses and 

 loss of time, eventually we got only eight hundred 

 pounds for it. I also held some claims in the new 

 rush or Colesberg Kopje (Kimberley mine). 



Marais and I had to make several trips to and 

 fro between Pretoria and the fields, we much enjoyed 

 the free life on the road. One trip we slept out in the 

 patch of Vaal-bosch trees, where years afterwards 

 Delarey's commando ambushed Lord Methuen's con- 

 voy under Major Anderson. It was in the winter 

 and bitterly cold, we started next morning at dawn, 

 it being Marais' turn to drive. After a short time 

 he asked me to take the reins while he lit his pipe, 

 but when I offered him the reins back he refused to 

 take them. I threatened to upset the cart, but being 

 a man of far-reaching knowledge, he said, " No you 

 won't, it is your own buggy." True it was a nice 

 new trap and I didn't, but I thought over the matter. 

 Late at night we arrived near Potchefstroom, and 

 when we came to the first big water furrow, I got 

 out to find a crossing ; I found a small foot bridge, 

 and called out to him to go down the furrow till he 

 came to a crossing, in the meantime I walked to the 

 hotel and as he did not turn up, had supper and 

 went to bed, telling the landlord to send a man to 

 look for Marais, but when he came, not to tell him 

 which was my room. They found him wandering 

 among the Potchefstroom water furrows, in a most 

 unreasonable temper and wanting to know where I 

 was ! Next morning I had to explain, with much 

 sorrow, that I found it due to myself, and as a 

 wholesome lesson for his future guidance, to pay him 

 off for his behaviour in the cold early morning. I 

 will not repeat his language, but no blood was shed. 

 When we first went to Hebron, a native chief lantye 

 set up a claim (backed by certain adventurers), to 



