ALMOST A FAMINE. 
301 
shake off the effects of this last attack till I can 
enjoy a few swims in the lovely bay of Natal. 
23 rd. — Merico Country. — I arrived here on 
Friday night, and found all the Boers in Laagaar, 
with all their beasts, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, 
ducks, geese, fowls, pigeons, monkeys, cats, calves, 
and children without number. There is hardly a 
blade of grass to be seen in any direction — a pretty 
state of things for my jaded hungry oxen. I there¬ 
fore lost no time in seeking a better neighbourhood, 
and Dederick Knitse allowed my oxen to run on his 
farm, which is about an hour on horseback from the 
Laagaar ; and here I now am, and intend to remain 
for eight or ten days to recruit my oxen a little, 
and repair the old wagon, which has held together 
so far marvellously. More bad news: my other 
two horses were also dead, and I must refund 150 
dollars (11/. 55.), which is not easily done. I find 
everything uncommonly scarce and dear, almost a 
famine in the land ; meal, mealies, slaughter oxen 
or cows, and milch cows, are not to be had for 
money; consequently, my Kaffirs have a hard time 
of it; game there is none ; and I spent yesterday 
(Sunday) in the Laagaar. The men are wuaried to 
death from ennui, and pass their time in round 
loping, drinking brandy and coffee to a frightful 
amount, swearing and quarreling. One day amongst 
men of my own colour, although I had been five 
months without seeing a white man, was quite 
enough for me ; but little real good feeling exists 
