70 



A Breath from the Veldt 



carries himself bravely under it, with now and then a gleam of embarrassment 

 most amusing to witness. 



A Hottentot named Prince is said to be the best driver hereabouts, and 

 for the last two or three days I have been trying to secure his services as 

 waggon-driver and handy-man ; but I fear I shall not succeed, as his master, 

 an old Dutch farmer living some ten miles away, refuses to let him come. 

 Piet has been over twice as ambassador between us, but as his heart is given 

 to the farmer's daughter, he probably thinks more of her than of his special 



mission. However, he swears he will 

 bring Prince back with him this time, 

 if he has to kidnap him. 



It is a desolate place this — all bare 

 grass — and the silence is broken only 

 by the soothing lilt of a little bush 

 shrike, the only bird here that appears 

 to have any song. Enteric fever is 

 all around ; hardly a house without 

 one or more inmates stricken down. 

 A young man named Randsberg, who 

 was here to-day, lives in constant 

 dread of it, as well he may do, for 

 his home, three miles away, is right 

 in the middle of a miasmatic swamp 

 in which I was shooting francolins 

 yesterday ; and only three weeks ago 

 his father and mother and three Zulu 

 boys all died of it. He seems to think there is no hope for any one this spring.^ 

 Monday, \si May. — We left Teenie's on Saturday, our party consisting of 

 Teenie and Piet Landsberg, Pompoom, Office, Gentleman, and myself — Office 

 and Gentleman being in charge of the donkeys and the oxen. As the driver 

 of a waggon and sixteen oxen Pompoom is simply a marvel of activity, his 

 legs and arms and tongue being kept hard at work all the day long. He 

 comports himself, too, with considerable dignity, and openly shows his 

 contempt for the two big Shangans, whom he considers low caste, and treats 

 accordingly. Between him and them insults of the grossest character are not 



1 A few days later poor Randsberg got the fever, and was saved only by the affectionate care of Mrs. 

 Landsberg, who moved the whole family to her own house and nursed him through his illness. Like Eastern 

 Mashonaland, the Eastern Transvaal is extremely unhealthy in the spring. 



