A KARROO FARM. 263 



beneath the slanting sunhght. We are not sorry to 

 off-saddle, and have a cup of coffee, or something 

 stronger, and a smoke during the hour before 

 high-tea. 



The springboks graze peacefully far out upon the 

 veldt ; the flocks of sheep and goats are all now 

 trending homewards as the sun sinks, the distant 

 tinkle of their bells wafted now and again across 

 the brown-bosomed plain. Lower sinks the great 

 luminary as he prepares his gorgeous vestments for 

 the night ; it is a goodly and a striking scene. The 

 pomp and pride of evening now begins ; lingeringly 

 the sun departs, charging and suffusing earth, 

 atmosphere, and mountains alike with a ruddy flush 

 and glow of colour, well-nigh inconceivable to any 

 but African beholders. The red light fades, the 

 mountains change from their glorious panoply of 

 crimson and gold to a mellow purple, and as day 

 departs from the karroo, they pass into sombre 

 darkness. Silence, save for the occasional bleating 

 from the kraals or the cry of a distant jackal, now 

 broods upon the landscape, as we turn half reluctantly 

 indoors. The sun has gone, but shortly the African 

 moon, already risen, will appear radiant and serene 

 from behind yonder lowering pile of Witteberg — 



" Here shall the wizard moon ascend 

 The heavens in the crimson end, 

 Of days declining splendour ; here 

 The army of the stars appear." 



As we light our pipes contentedly after supper, 

 and look out upon the landscape now drenched in an 

 argent flood of the most chastening and bewitching 

 light that ever shone from heaven, we inwardly bless 



