CHAPTER XVI. 



An invitation Terrific storm Silent eloquence Mounted Bushmen 

 The Bushman as an enemy A Dutch hunter Gallant Defence A 

 Cockney traveller Boer incredulity British disbelief Adventure with 

 a Bushman African rivers Change of sentiments. 



DURING another visit of some months at Pietermaritz- 

 burg, where I had some excellent reitbock and ourebi 

 shooting, I accepted an invitation to a friend's residence 

 near the sources of the Umganie. A night passed under 

 the canopy of heaven was never to me a matter much to 

 be feared, if good sport was the result ; and these residences 

 on the border of the game country made very good 

 starting points for two or three days' roughing it in the 

 open plains. With my two horses and a Kaffir, I started 

 with a very vague idea as to the position of my friend's 

 residence. I crossed the Umganie near the falls, and 

 struck off to the left of the road that leads to Bushman's 

 River, and after riding about three hours, I made inquiry 

 from some Kaffirs whom I met about the distance I was to 

 go. Their explanation of distance is by the single word 

 kude ; it expresses how long, from a day's journey to 

 a mile, the ku being dwelt on for about ten seconds, 

 means a long way. When it is spoken quickly, the 

 place asked for is close; in the present instance, the 

 ku u u de was expressive of several miles. As it was 

 near sunset, I asked where the sun would be when I 



