234 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



" fortified milk," we pushed on again. Shortly after 

 leaving Rosettenville we entered into one of the most 

 picturesque and pleasant parts of the way : a deep and 

 beautifully wooded valley, known as the Eagle's Kloof 

 from the number of aasvogels (Egyptian vultures) which 

 inhabit the steep and rugged cliffs flanking the right- 

 hand side of the valley. Nestling in this smiling oasis 

 was the former home of a certain well-known landdrost, 

 who, in his official capacity under President Kruger, 

 proved very hostile towards the members of the Reform 

 Committee of 1895. Within a short distance of this 

 gentleman's house ran a charming little brook, the surface 

 of which was carpeted with beautiful eucharist and purple 

 water - lilies ; its banks being fringed with drooping 

 willows, feathery tree-ferns, scarlet gladioli, and a 

 hundred other varieties of trees, ferns, and gorgeously 

 tinted blossoms, many of which were new to me. 

 Briefly, Eagle's Kloof was a very delightful spot, and 

 notwithstanding such exotics as tree-ferns, eucharist 

 lilies, and other plants which are found growing only 

 under glass in the Old Country, one might easily have 

 imagined oneself to be travelling through some Devon 

 or Cornish valley. 



But we have dwelt upon this verdant spot too long. 



It is time to continue on our trek towards de V 's farm. 



Shortly after ten o'clock we outspanned on the banks of 

 a spruit for breakfast, and to give the mules a handful 

 of mealies, a mouthful of water, and a roll on the veldt. 

 We were by this time a good sixteen miles distant from 



