"hustler" as the New York taxi-driver, and also these have their 

 representatives o))ly too numerously in all the large cities. 



Out of this quarterly or even half-yearly get-together "at the 

 church" many incidents of interest naturally arise; one of these 

 is told in a highly amusing way by the Swedish traveller and ex- 

 plorer Karstrom and may be considered here only in the light of 

 its eifect on the metliod of improving the quality of the Cape horse." 



The young farmer lias had the opportunity of meeting the 

 young ladies of the district and having had his affection stolen away 

 by a maiden often manj^ miles away from his father's farm, he 

 naturally has to pay her the necessary calls. For this purpose the 

 best horse of his father's troop is selected, trained and groomed to 

 perfection — for even up to quite recently a farmer's standing was 

 generally judged by his equipage or by his horse if he was on 

 horse-back. 



Thus every youth in the land is most particular on this part 

 of his worldly possessions — his riding-horse, shooting pony and the 

 carriage pair arc amongst his dearest possessions ; and there is 

 a very effective saying amongst the farmers, that there are three 

 things which a man should uever lend out and that is his wife, his 

 riding-horse and his rifle. 



The wagon team. Cape cart and riding horse are giv(ni prom- 

 inence here, because, many a well-to-do farmer pays too little at- 

 tention to his eqiupage and frequently resorts to the ox- wagon when 

 a team of neat geldings would not only have given greater speed 

 and comfort but also saved time and multiplied the opportunities 

 of making small trips citlicr for business or pleasure. 



The horse-team would be more in vogue, had we still those good 

 light horse-wagons. To hitch a team of horses to the unwieldy 

 ox- wagon is to add injury to insult, to say the least. The light 

 trolly-wagon would be a great asset on the farm. 



The great drawback to these teams are of course the problem 

 of feeding. To In'v feed on the way when it is not the general 

 usage is too expensive. Wealtliy farmers own automobiles but at 

 the same aime they always possess several good pairs of horses. 

 Some smaller details deserve some mention here. 



South African harness is decidedly better than most of the im- 

 ported European make. Like almost everything else it is charac- 

 (9) B. Karstrom. "A Voyage to ihe Cape of Good Sope 1820. 



66 



