326 



A Breath from the Veldt 



like bears in winter, and as to their womenfolk, the proverbial Alderman is n 

 in it in the race for obesity. 



But to return to Oom Piet. He was born, I may say, on the seaboard 

 the Nysna Forest, where as a young man he killed both elephant and bufFal 

 Starting life with a waggon and a few oxen, he claims to have been the fii 

 settler in the upper plains of the Orange Free State ; and to-day, by his industr 

 thrift, and perseverance, he is probably one of the richest men in that part 

 the country. Like other Dutchmen, however, he adheres to the simple mo( 

 of life of his forefathers, existing on coffee, bread, and meat, and going to b( 

 at sunset ; while we, with our advanced civilisation, poison ourselves with 

 superfluity of dainty dishes and deleterious drinks, and think nothing of wastir 

 our strength by sitting up half the night. Oom Piet, I have said, was thrift 

 He was more than this. Though rolling in wealth, according to the measui 

 of his countrymen, he clutched eagerly at every sixpence that came in his wa- 

 and during the first two or three days of my stay he was constantly demandin 

 payment for the most trivial services. This, however, was his one weak point 

 he soon gave up asking, and as we came to know each other better I found hii 

 a most agreeable and interesting companion, and, like Van Staden the hunte 

 a grand type of the Voor trekker, and a man of marked individuality whom 

 was a pleasure to study. 



In the evening, after prayers and supper, every one retired to rest, m 

 sleeping quarters being in a sort of shed at the back of the house, where 

 comfortable bed was provided for me. The door and window, however, bein 

 things of primitive fashion and badly hung, any of the various denizens of tl: 

 farm-yard who were disposed to share my apartment could readily enter, as 

 found out at daybreak next morning. A rasping noise at the foot of my be 

 woke me up, and there I saw an old sow complacently scratching her bac 

 against the framework, while with equal familiarity several hens were discussir 

 the uses of my drawing materials on the table, and testing their respecti^ 

 merits as articles of food. By the time I had bowed out these visitors mir 

 host appeared, and asked if I meant to sleep all day ; for the ■ Boers are ear] 

 risers, all the work having to be done before the heat of the day. Now I hi 

 arranged with the old man for his son (Jan) to call for me in his hunting ca 

 at six that morning, and after a preliminary cup of coffee I waited anxiously f 

 his advent ; but it was ten o'clock before a rattle of wheels and barking < 

 Boer dogs announced his arrival, and not until I had set eyes on the cart, wit 

 its stolid occupant and a wildebeest hanging underneath, did I understand wh 



