HOME LIFE ON AN OSTRICH FARM, 



CHAPTER I. 



PORT ELIZABETH AND WALMER. 



Early ambitions realized Voyage to South Africa Cape Town and 

 Wynberg Profusion of flowers Port Elizabeth Christmas deco- 

 rations Public library Malays Walmer Hottentot huts Our 

 little house Pretty gardens Honey-suckers Flowers of Walmer 

 Common Wax-creeper Ixias Scarlet heath Natal lilies 

 "Upholstery flower" Ticks Commence ostrich-farming Count- 

 ing the birds A ride after an ostrich. 



IN the year 1881, leaving our native land wrapped in 

 the cold fogs of November, my husband and I started 

 for South Africa; where it was the intention of the 

 former to resume the occupation of ostrich-farming, 

 engaged in which he had already spent many years in 

 the Cape Colony. It was my first visit to South Africa, 

 and I was looking forward with great pleasure to the 

 realization of a very early wish ; for the adventures of 

 settlers in far-off lands had always from childhood 

 been my favourite reading, and I had become firmly 

 convinced that a colonial life would suit me better 

 than any other. Nor have I been disappointed ; but, 



