278 HOME LIFE ON AN OSTRICH FARM. 



round the kitchen door were old friends, from whom 

 we were sorry to part. 



But, strange to say, the very animal which in Eng- 

 land becomes one of the friendliest seems here the 

 least domesticated ; and it cost us less of a pang to bid 

 adieu to our horses than might be imagined by people 

 at home, unacquainted with the surprising lack of in- 

 telligence which, in the Cape Colony, distinguishes the 

 equine race. Their independent lives, and the freedom 

 which most of them enjoy to roam as they will about 

 the veldt, unfettered by the restraints of a stable, seem 

 to have rendered them very indifferent to human 

 society. It is no use trying to make a friend of your 

 horse; he contemptuously repels all your advances, 

 obstinately refuses to eat out of your hand, despises 

 pieces of bread, lumps of sugar, and all such delicate 

 little attentions wherewith you have never failed to 

 win the heart of his English brother, and, however 

 many years he may have lived with you, persists to 

 the last in remaining on the coldest and most distant 

 of terms. 



Among all our horses the only really intelligent 

 animal was one of Arab descent. But our good-bye to 

 him was said a year before ; and now, on leaving 

 Swaylands, we can but take our last look at " the place 

 where the old horse died." The faithful old grey 

 friend who lies under that rough clump of bush was a 



favourite of long standing. He had belonged to T 



many years ago, was sold by him on leaving the colony, 

 and, after changing hands several times, chiefly among 



