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EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

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Page 1: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria
Page 2: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON.

Page 3: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

IMPORTANT BOOKS OF TRAVEL.

TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. By ColonelW. PARKER GILLMORE (" UBIQUE "), Author of "The GreatThirst Land," &c. Demy 8vo, gs•

.. Everybody knows Mr. Gillmore as a plucky traveller and a powerful writer "-VanityFazfl'.

AMONG THE ZULUS: The Adventures of Hans Sterkin South Mrica. By Lieut.-Col. A. W. DRAYSON, RA.Crown 8vo, illustrated, paper boards, price 2/. 6d.; cloth, giltedges, price 3/. 6d.

HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPES; or, The Adventures ofThree Boys in South Mrica. By the Rev. H. C. ADAMS.Illustrated, cloth, 51., or gilt edges, 5s. 6d.

ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA; or, The Wander­ings of Captain Spencer in the Bush and the Wilds. By Mrs.R. LEE. New and revised edItion. Illustrated. SixthThousand. 3/. 6d., gilt edges, 41.

A NAUTICAL NOVELTHE SECRET OF THE SANDS; or, The "Water

Lily" and her Crew. By HARRY COLLINGWOOD. :01 vols.Crown 8vo, cloth, gIlt tops, 12/.

"We own that we were fascinated ourselves by the story of the cruise. ••• We can addconsCIentiously that we have really enjoyed the book."-Saturday ReT/trw.

GRIFFITH AND FARRAN,

WEST CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON.

Page 4: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

EIGHT MONTHS IN AN

OX-WAGGON.

REMINISCENCES OF BOER LIFE.

BY

E. F. SANDEMAN.

WITH A MAP.

GRIFFITH AND FARRAN,SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY AND lIAlI.lI.IS,

WEST CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON.

Page 5: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

Th~ nglzls of Translatton and 0/Rtjroduction art rtstrVtd.

Page 6: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

MY FATHER,

FOtt' WHOSE AMUSEMENT

Page 7: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.PAGE

From London to Cape Town-The Rival Routes-Disem- .barking-The Masonic Hotel-The Inhabitants-CapeTown by Night-Mosquitoes and their Victims . I

CHAPTER II.

Wynberg-Rathfelder's Hotel-The Suburbs ofCape Town­Jacobus-An Afternoon Ride-Constantia-Vineyardsand 'Wines-History of a Loaf of Bread-Servants 9

CHAPTER III.

Plans for the Joumey-The Air ofthe Transvaal-Our Guides-Scares from the Front-Scarcity ofInformation-CapeTown Museum-From Cape Town to Durban-Onboard the " Melrose"-East London- Volunteers-TheBars-Landing at Durban . 18

CHAPTER IV.

Durban Railway-Kaffir Carriers-Fever-Conveyances toMaritzburg-Royal Hotel 'Vaiters-Kaffirs-CurfewBell-Sunday Dinner . . 27

CHAPTER V.

Clearing Fire-arms-The Point-Gun-room-A Gun lost­Gun-ronning-Hot Nights-Drive to Pinetown-Bar­gain for a Conveyance-Mrs. Murray's Hotel-An earlyStart-Railway to Maritzburg-Camperdown-PieterMaritzburg . . 32

Page 8: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

viii CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI..PAGE

Preparation for a Start-Pemlits for Guns-Obtaining Am-munition-List ofStores-Beads-Iced Drinks-MarketPrices-Fish-Kaffir Superstition-Our Boys • 39

CHAPTER VII.Howick-A second Waggon-Castle Hotel~Waterfalls­

Troubles with the Boys-And the Waggon-Repack­ing-8unday Picnics-Our Start-Our first Outspan-No Gc1me-Mooi River . 47

CHAPTER VIII.Estcourt-Drivers and Foreloupers-Kaffir Taxes-A heavy

Stonn-Caterpillars-Plover-Crossing the Tugela byMoonlight-Colenso - Chickens-Trap-door Spider-Ostrich Plains-Sand River-Washing-day . . 56

CHAPTER IX.Food scarce-A Morning's Shooting-The Draconsberg-A

ce Stick "-Ride to Harrismith-CC All the Year Round"Hotel-Change our Route-Another "Stick 'I-A DustStorm-Sunset-The Horses stray . 63

CHAPTER x.The Boers of the Free State-Their Opinions on the Annex­

ation-Cornelius River-Irregular Meals-A pleasantBoer-Pram Kop-Snake Stories-The Inchloukgla . 70

CHAPTER XI.Coranne-Grunveldt's Farmstead-The District School and

Schoolmaster-Spring-bok Huntingwith a Boer-Borse'sInstinct-An Evening at Home in a Boer's House­Whist-A Grass Fire-Leuw Kop-The Lion's Ride­Wool Farming-African Turkeys-A Basuto Massacre. 80

CHAPTER XII.

Rhy-bok Hunting-The Boys show the White Feather-OnTrek-Flogging by the Field Comet-Wandering onthe Ve1dt-Blesse-bok-Square-face fl. Old Tom-BoerDishonesty-Vaal River-Coranne Shooting-Scarcityof Trees-Watches useless . . 9 2

Page 9: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIII.

IX

PAGESunday Occupation-Duck-shooting-Crossing the Vaal-

Skeletons of Bok-A Night out on the Veldt-CuriousFuel-Kaffir Coffee . 102

CHAPTER XIV.

The first Breakdown-Boers on the Scent of Grog-A Snake­hunt-Postage in the Transvaal-A Boer Postmaster­Bargaining with Boers-A Macatee Krall-Daka-smok-ing, and its Effects . 114

CHAPTER XV.

No Coffee-Birds and Insects in the Transvaal-Heidelburg-An up-country Billiard-room-Wild Ostriches-Ridinginto Pretoria-Letters from Home-Conflicting Intelli­gence-Mr. White assists us-The Route decided-F.leaves us-The" European "-The Queen's Birthday-Ball at Government House . . 121

CHAPTER XVI.

Final Preparations-A Dinner-party on the Road-A JackalHunt-The Boys are troublesome-Francis has a luckyEscape-Poaching Fish-Spring-bok-Vultures-Kaffirsand Spirits- :M:iddelburg-Herr Marensky . . 130

CHAPTER XVII.

A Chase after Blesse-bok-Mr. and Mrs. Hartogh-CountlessHerds of Bok-Orebi- Salt-pans-Pig-A Cropper­Buck-jumpers-Mere-cat and Kite-Potsabelo MissionStation . 143

CHAPTER XVIII.

Herr Marensky's early Troubles-The Settlement-Popula­tion- System of Conversion-Government-Sunday At-tack-Polygamy-Stores-Personal Property . 155

Page 10: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

x CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIX.PAGE

A Kaflir Service-The Native Kralls-A Funeral-Extract-ing a Tooth-Making Beltong-The Foreloupers desert-Bok-hunting-Bronsick Salt-A Farewell Supper-Parting Presents-A Breakdown • . 168

CHAPTER Xx.

Water scarce-Ammunition runs short - Laziness-" Oneover "-No Market-Our Roads divide-Stalkmg aDonkey-Oxen begin to fail- A bad "Stick"-UglyCountry-A Boer's Farm-Obtain a Guide . . 178

CHAPTER XXI.

A Dismal Valley-A Mud-hole-Rigging out-A Night Trek-Ware Kaffirs-The Dusselboom breaks-A Compul­sory Halt - Leydenburg - Waggon • makers - HighPrices-Speculators . 191

CHAPTER XXII.

Leydenburg and its Inhabitants-Ominous Tidings-Mail­cart missing - Horse-sickness - Guarantees - SaltedHorses-Vets.-Diseases of Animals . . 203

CHAPTER XXIII.

No Grass-Loading the Waggons-Watch~dogs-RoughRoads-The Sabie Valley-The Devil's Knuckles­Spitzkop-Gold-Mines-Marking Claims-Alluvial Dig-ging-Sluice-boxes--Panning out. . 21 I

CHAPTER XXIV.

Broeaung-stick Creek-Reefing-The Beig-" Steamer" dies-Physicking Oxen-Fire-Rain-A narrow Path-ATransvaal Storm-Food scarce-A Horse strays-AHill of Snakes-Klip-springers • . 223

Page 11: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXV.

Xl

PAGELoses Kop-The Honey-bird-Hunting a Horse-A Shoot-

ing Horse and its Treatment-Flying Serpents-SandRiver-Partridges-Pretorious Kop-Our permanentCamp. . 235

CHAPTER XXVI.Hunting Big Game-Imparla-A Stampede-Quagga-Blue

'Wildebeeste-Water-holes-Lions-Story of the Lion-killer-Gumea·fowl-Inconyama . . 247

CHAPTER XXVII.Rumours of Danger-Precautions-Sarsapi-Vultures-The

Camp-pot-Delagoa Bay Boys-Boers' Churlishness-A Battue-A novel Hunt-Stalking Oxen-Pig-NewBoys-Our Party breaks up-A melancholy Sunday • 263

CHAPTER XXVIII.Into the Tsetse Belt-Zulus-Moreep-Preparations for the

Start-Giraffe-An exciting Run-Marrow Bones-Jacob-Stores for the Journey-Last Instructions-Aparting Salute-Kaffir Laziness-A Boa-constrictor. . 278

CHAPTER XXIX.

Transport and Railroads-Empty Coffers-Assassination­Friends in Need-The Ruined Hut-Our Line ofMarch - No Supper-An impromptu Stable-Lionsabout-Water scarce-Hard up for Food . 294

CHAPTER xxx.Inyati I Inyati !-A Lioness-Meat in Profusion-The Boys

gorge themselves-More Buffalo-A narrow Escape-Afine Giraffe • . 308

CHAPTER XXXI.Rain sets in-" Cricket" is lost-Blue \Vildebeeste-A

wounded Bull-The Boys" tree'd "-A pleasant Camp_Iguana - Black Rhinoceros-Martini-Henry-Wildl'lg-The Boys return-" Cricket's" Death-Tsetse Fly 32 5

Page 12: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

xii CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXII.PAGE

Provisions run short-The last Buffalo-No Water-Thirst-Tongas-The Waggons again-All safe-Koodoo-Along Ride-Crevicing-Russell's Store-A Digger'sQuarters-Diggers at Home-Frozen in Bed . 340

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Stories of Boers-Curious Report-Back in Leydenburg­Cattle Lifting - A False Alarm-A Ball-Off to theFront-Leydenburg Armoury-A long Trek . 360

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Secocoeni's Kop-Shells-A plucky Ride-Torture-Zuiker­bosh Kop-Dangerous Meeting-Mapock-The An.nexation . 375

CHAPTER XXXV.

Middelburg to Pretoria-Blaubank Diggings-An undigni..fled Appeal-Volunteers selling off-Miserable Treking-Boers-Threatened Famine from Drought-Maritz..burg-Conclusion . 387

Page 13: EIGHT MONTHS IN AN OX-WAGGON. - University of Pretoria

CONTENTS.

NEW AND SoU.NDARD "'fORKS

NEW NOVELS

IIISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY

IliPORTANT nOOKS OF For.x-LoRE

USEl!'UL KNOWLEDGE AND EYTERTAIIfING ANECDOTE

WO,RXS BY THE LATE JOHN TIMBS, F.S.A.

STANESBY'S lLLUlIU1UTED GIl!'T BooKS

NEW POETRY

BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY BooKS

DEVOTIONAL AND RELIGIOUS BooKS

WORKS FOR DISTRIBUTIO~

EDUCATIONAL WORKS:

GoOD HAlmwRiTING

HISTORY

GEOGBAPBY

GRAMMAR, &c.

ARITHMETIC, ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY

~EMENTARY FRENCH AND GERMAN ~~ORKS

NEEDLEWORK, &c.

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