396 
THE NEW AFRICA 
We left Potgieter, well supplied with bread and ox biltong 
by the generosity of our host, and passed on along the Pilands 
river, through large native gardens of corn, often standing six 
feet and more high, already rich in ear; and, crossing a large 
turf flat, entered the treeless high veldt once more, never 
having been out of sight of bush since we left Pretoria on our 
way up country. 
We passed the farm of one Christian Rasmus, one of the 
Trek Boers, under Schmidt and Kreeling, who had returned 
from Lake Ngami overwhelmed with the obstacles before the 
trek. He expressed great satisfaction at being back in the 
Transvaal. 
On the 4th we camped at Die derik, Muller’s farm: he is 
the possessor of a corn-grinding mill driven by water-power, 
and a beautiful flower-garden shaded by fine oak-trees. 
On June the 6th we arrived at Piet Grobelar’s farm, St. Helena, 
fourteen miles from the village Ermelo, in the Transvaal, having 
made a record journey for speed from Mongwato. 
Like everything else about Piet Grobelar, we found his farm, 
although quite of recent occupation, in excellent order. In 
partnership with his father-in-law, Mr. Christian Bossoff, he 
had-already built a fine house, and cultivated many acres of 
soil. Amongst their most valued possessions they numbered 
a large herd of springbok, and a smaller one of blesbok, both 
strictly preserved. A portion of the farm was set aside for the 
sole occupation of these buck, and never was invaded under 
any pretence whatever. This valley was called a ‘ wild kraal,’ 
game preserve, and the game knew as well as possible that 
their safety lay in remaining within the bounds of this mystic 
valley. It was permitted, and even desirable, to occasionally 
shoot at a buck that strayed far beyond the precincts of the 
kraal, when it was quite laughable to see them scurry off to 
the place of immunity, knowing well that safety lay there. 
Mr. Bossoff, a rare old sport, challenged me, for the price of a 
pipe, to shoot springbok against him; limit, two shots each. We 
watched till a troop of about ten bucks strayed some distance out 
