246 Among Men and Horses. 



wards women, we must remember that South African ideas 

 on that important subject are, to a certain extent, those of 

 the Dutch farmers, who look upon their womankind more as 

 useful household drudges than as intellectual equals. At the 

 same time, I must say that if these colonists do not make a 

 great parade of their politeness to ladies, it is not for want of 

 goodness of heart ; for they could not possibly be kinder or 

 more obliging than they are to them in any time of need. 

 The one thing which they do not go in for is ' style.' Their 

 saddlery is the commonest stuff which comes out of England, 

 and is rarely cleaned. Their bits and stirrup-irons are never 

 touched with a burnisher ; and their horses are seldom 

 groomed. No doubt it is better to have them as they are, 

 than to burden their minds with refinements of culture which 

 would be of no use to them in their rough life. The rising 

 generation in South Africa are to be admired for their inde- 

 pendence and readiness of resource. 



My wife's pluck and skill in riding bad horses and those 

 that had never been previously bridled or saddled were 

 immensely admired, especially by the Kimberley ladies, 

 whom I had put on the free list ; as they were all either wives, 

 daughters, or sisters of the members of my .class. As almost 

 all the men had a great deal to do practically with horses, 

 they were never tired of listening to me while I held forth on 

 my favourite subject, or of watching me handling, mouthing, 

 and teaching to jump the animals they brought me. Need- 

 less to say that my cup of happiness was full. Our work here 

 was so warmly appreciated, that the committee of the South 

 African Exhibition, which was to be held four months later in 

 Kimberley, invited me to hold performances during the three 

 months of the Exhibition time. They offered me seventy- 

 five per cent, of the ' gate ' and promised that they would pay 

 all expenses for advertising, seating, and lighting. The offer- 

 ing of these liberal terms was a good proof that they con- 

 sidered that our show would be a big ' draw.' Unfortunately,. 

 I was unable to fulfil this engagement ; for the rough work 



