BOERS AND THEIR WAGGONS. 221 



as much at home at their waggons as in a house. 

 They have little primitive camp-stools on which 

 they sit round the fire, and the women go about 

 their household duties, and the children play about, 

 and they seem quite at home. Of course when 

 it rains they sit in the waggons like rats in holes — 

 as I have already done myself, and shall now 

 begin to do again. You have no idea how much 

 a home a waggon becomes. I have my books 

 and all my et ceteras within reach ; and, though 

 it is a little cramping, the pleasure of stretching 

 the limbs when you do get out repays you to a 

 certain extent. 



" I expect in a day or two a reply from the king, 

 giving me permission to hunt in his veldt. I only 

 wish to go a short distance from here, to the Rama- 

 kwebani, and Shashani, and thereabouts — a tract of 

 country that I know pretty well, and for which I 

 have a real affection, so often have I roamed through 

 its wilds. Rivers that I know well I look upon as 

 friends. I wish, indeed, I could be set down now 

 where I was last year, when I was sent by the king 

 into his favourite veldt on failing to reach the Zam- 

 besi, but it is too far, and I should have to traverse 

 the thickly-populated part of the country to reach 

 it. The loathing with which I regard this people 

 is in itself sufficient to deter me. The king him- 

 self is well enough, and rules the Kaffirs with a rod of 

 iron, but the Kaffirs, as a nation, I abominate, and 

 not without good reason. The amount of pride 

 you must pocket when sojourning amongst these 



