126 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



On the 13th I left Colesberg, and set out on my way 

 to Grahamstown, passing on the 17th the Thebus flats. 

 On the march I saddled up, and, leaving the wagons, 

 rode across the country for Hendric Strydom's farm, 

 where I had commenced my sporting career in South 

 Africa. As I rode across the flats I found springbok 

 and black wildebeest still abundant. On reaching the 

 residence of my former friend, I found the blackness of 

 desolation pictured there. The house was falling to 

 piecea, and the grass grew rank where the pot was 

 wont to boil. In a melancholy mood, I then turned my 

 face for the farm where I had ordered my wagons to 

 halt ; and, as I rode along, I mused on the fleeting and 

 transient nature of all human cpndition. On the 25th 

 I reached Fort Beaufort, where I dined with some old 

 acquaintances at the mess of the 7th. 



On the 29th we marched to the Fish River at dawn 

 of day. Here I found about sixty wagons waiting the 

 falling of the river to get through. Some of us set to 

 work to clear away a bank of mud on the opposite side, 

 after which a good many wagons, lightly laden, cross 

 ed the river ; but on attempting to bring through mj 

 large wagon, she stuck fast, and was at length extri- 

 cated with the help of another span. We saved her 

 just in time, for the river was increasing fast when we 

 got her out, and in another half hour was running a 

 rapid torrent, at least ten feet deep. I found several 

 very jolly farmers, English and Scotch, lying on the 

 opposite side ; in particular, one Annesley, of whom I 

 had heard a great deal. This man was a regular 

 "brick," a thorough Scotsman from the borders. He 

 came up to me at once, and asked me to come and 

 have a glass of whisky with him: he was accompanied 

 by his family ; his eldest daughter was a very fine girl 



