BECKHAMPTON TO SOUTH AFRICA 79 



stables, and we found that sizeable horses can be 

 raised in South Africa by those who go the right 

 way to work, and have suitable land. The animals 

 to which I refer were the property of Mr. Nourse, 

 and were trained by White, at the Vineyard Hotel, 

 Newlands. Captain Bagot Chester was good 

 enough to run us out on a motor-car to see this 

 stable, and on the way we passed through Mr. 

 Cecil Rhodes's domains, where all manner of beasts 

 may be seen in their spacious paddocks. White, 

 if I recollect rightly, used to be with one of the 

 Leaders, and he was certainly doing well here, both 

 as trainer and jockey. The stable was more like 

 one of our home ones than any I saw out there ; 

 but the horses were all bred in South Africa, and, 

 with few exceptions, were by Pearl Diver, whom 

 many of us will remember as one of the first sons of 

 Master Kildare, and contemporary with Melton. 

 Pearl Diver was located at a stud somewhere 

 near Graaf Reinet, and Mr. Nourse used to buy 

 eight or nine of his stock bred there every year. 

 This year, unfortunately, there were none to buy, 

 as, thanks to the Boer marauders, all the foals were 

 lost, though the mares were saved. Pearl Diver's 

 stock would be a credit to any horse at home, one 

 of them in particular — ^Wild Plunger by name — 

 being good enough looking to win in the best 

 company. He was a great performer in South 



