158 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



by any means what it should have heen. However, we 

 struggled on and arrived at Vryburg (the seat of the 

 Administrator of British Bechuanaland) for breakfast next 

 morning. A wretched place of scattered houses and shanties 

 and muddy streets ; it has a well-built gaol and a bar, which 

 must be a gold mine to the proprietor. As soon as the mails 

 had been rearranged, we once again took our places, and after 

 dining at the Taungs Hotel, came in for some heavy rain, 

 which made the country a sea of mud and the rivers very 

 dangerous. In the night, which was very dark, we were 

 stopped by one of these suddenly rising torrents, the roaring 

 of which had been audible for some time. It was just light 

 enough to see the rushing water, while a flash of lightning lit 

 up every now and then the slush and mud around. The mail 

 cart came to a stop ; to cross was too dangerous a venture in 

 the darkness, and as it rained harder than ever, we took the 

 horses out, and, dozing, waited patiently for dawn. We were 

 all very damp, but probably not as wet as an attempt to cross 

 the river would have made us, and slumber, although in an 

 upright and cramped position, was thoroughly enjoyed, however 

 much it rained. At length the downpour ceased, the river went 

 down, and at break of day we inspanned the dripping horses and 

 got safely across. A house, building as a store, near the then 

 future line of railway, supplied us with hot coffee, never so 

 much appreciated as after a damp, uncomfortable night. Thus 

 refreshed we jolted on, changing teams whenever possible, and 

 towards evening reached a stretch of particularly bad road, 

 thickly covered, as it was, with stones and great granite 

 boulders. Running full tilt against one of these latter, the two 

 drivers were jerked out and fell on to their faces on the ground, but, 

 beyond a few bruises, got up unhurt. The jolting of the cart 

 was most uncomfortable over the loose stones, and savage 

 growls and strong language became very audible, especially 

 when somebody's head had come in contact more forcibly 

 than usual with one of the many sharp corners in the cart. 

 Presently, without the least warning, over went the whole 

 machine with a tremendous crash on to its side, and confusion 

 reigned supreme as we ten struggled in the dark for an outlet, 

 one on top of the other. One after another we gradually 

 crawled out, all fortunately unhurt excepting a few cuts and 



