CHAPTER XIII. 



OUR NEIGHBOURS. 



Hospitality of Cape colonists Cheating and jealousy in business 

 Comfortless homes Spoilt children Education The "School- 

 master" Convent schools A priest-ridden nation The Nacht- 

 maal Old French names A South African duke in Paris 

 Fine-looking men Fat women Ignorance of Vrouws Boers 

 unfriendly to English A mean man. 



THERE is much to be admired in the character of 

 those decidedly unpolished diamonds, the colonial-born, 

 English-speaking inhabitants of the Karroo. They 

 are a fine, sturdy, self-reliant race, splendidly fitted in 

 every way for their extremely rough-and-ready sur- 

 roundings. In kindliness and hospitality they are 

 unsurpassed, even by the much-praised dwellers in 

 Arab tents or white, flat-roofed Moorish houses ; and 

 in the isolated homesteads where they live their rough, 

 but simple and healthy lives, the heartiest reception is 

 invariably accorded alike to friends, slight acquaint- 

 ances, and even perfect strangers. Perhaps you are 

 one of the latter, and, on a long journey, you outspan 

 at the dam of a farm, with the intention of remaining 

 only long enough to give the horses the necessary water 

 and rest before you trek again. But no sooner is your 



