64 HOME LIFE ON AN OSTRICH FARM. 



How we enjoyed that day 1 and how delightful was 

 our ride back to " Hume Cottage " in the evening, 

 with the proceeds of the plucking tied up in two large 

 white bags, and fastened to our saddles ; making us 

 look as if we were taking our clothes to the wash. 

 My bimdle, by the way, came to grief en route, and 

 suddenly — somewhat to the discomposure of my 

 horse — we found ourselves enveloped in a soft snow- 

 storm of feathers, which went flying and whirling 

 merrily away across the veldt; many of them, in 

 spite of our prompt dismounting to rush madly hither 

 and thither in pursuit, quite evading all our efforts 

 to catch them. 



The modern houses on Cape farms are all built 

 entirely on utilitarian principles, with no thought of 

 grace or beauty ; indeed, the square and prosaic pro- 

 portions of the ordinary packing-case seem to have 

 been chosen as the model in the construction of nearly 

 every room. Even if the inmates had any idea of 

 comfort, or feeling for the picturesque — of both of 

 which they are quite innocent — it would be impossible 

 ever to make such rooms look either home-like or 

 pretty. As it is, they are most often like very un- 

 comfortable schoolrooms. 



Our first plan on coming to South Africa was the 

 ambitious one of setting our fellow-colonists a brilliant 

 example by striking out something entirely new in 

 farm architecture ; and many times during our stay at 

 Walmer would we talk over the white Algerian house, 

 with the comfort and loveliness of which our ostrich- 



