THE KAFFIR'S INGRATITUDE. 33 



permission, although the applicant talked most eloquently 

 for two hours in support of his case, frequently com- 

 plaining of his hunger. He was told, at length, by the 

 commissioner, to eat his horses if he were starving. 

 The Kaffir, giving with his tongue a loud click (always 

 expressive of disgust and indignation), sat silent for nearly 

 a minute, he then stood up to his full height, and 

 wrapping his blanket round him, told the commissioner, 

 with a grand air, that he was not a Hottentot : he here 

 referred to the practice these men have of eating the 

 quagga, or zebra. 



Finding all the talking of no avail, the Kaffir at length 

 squeezed out a few tears ; they appeared so genuine that 

 an officer who was present gave him a shilling to get 

 some meat. The Kaffir quietly pocketed it, and, looking 

 round to one of his followers, said, in a low tone, " What 

 does this fool of an Englishman expect to get from me?" 



The horses which the Kaffirs use are small, underbred, 

 but hardy animals. A Kaffir soon ruins them, as he 

 surely gives the horse a sore back, and always rides at 

 full gallop. He considers a horse to be of no use unless 

 it is ridden fast, as he can go along on foot at six miles 

 an hour. 



These Kaffirs think that it is vulgar to appear in a hurry 

 to talk about any subject, however important it may be to 

 them. A party coming in to see the interpreter on busi- 

 ness, rush up at full gallop, their blankets flying out 

 behind them, and their whips busily at work. They pull 

 up close to the talking-house, jump off and fasten their 

 horses to a bush, or turn them out to graze, they them- 



