Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 edition. Excerpt: ... ing through, and soon heard the roaring and crashing of the fire. There was an opening in the bush 200 yards ahead, and I slipped a box of matches in my pocket, and ran for my life there, setting fire to the grass in a dozen places under the wind, which instantly roared and tore away magnifi cently; and the wagons, whipping on through the smoke, had only just reached my friendly burn, when the fierce flames came tearing up, crossed the road instantly, and burnt themselves out at the tail of the wagons for want of fuel. The ground, however, was so hot that I burnt the soles of my shoes badly, and the poor oxen in the yoke kept shifting their feet incessantly. Meantime we were all working like demons, throwing sand on the hot embers to enable the poor oxen to stand. It was a critical moment, and I don't know when I have felt so nervous as I did then; for, in case any thing had taken fire, we had hardly a drop of water to extinguish it. The road is frightfully heavy, and this is the third day that most of my oxen have not tasted water; only eight got any at Batlanarmi; and though we trecked most of last night in spite of the darkness, I do not expect to reach any until to-morrow, and we must ride all night to-night. Mutla has gone mad from sun and thirst together, and run away into the bush. Matakitakit brought him back, struggling frantically, and I have been obliged to make him fast. I hope it is only a sun-stroke, and he will come round, his poor head being half battered in in a dozen places by savage, barbarous treatment. I suppose his brains have only a slight covering of skull, and Kaffirs wear no hats or covering for their heads. I have been obliged to load up, for the second time, Sechele's daughter, child, goods, and chattels, and...