To-Day The Post For England Leaves Caledon, So I Must Conclude This
Yarn.
I wish R- could have seen the 'klip springer', the mountain
deer of South Africa, which Capt.
D- brought in to show me. Such a
lovely little beast, as big as a small kid, with eyes and ears like
a hare, and a nose so small and dainty. It was quite tame and
saucy, and belonged to some man en route for Capetown.
LETTER V - CALEDON
Caledon, Dec. 29th.
I am beginning now really to feel better: I think my cough is
less, and I eat a great deal more. They cook nice clean food here,
and have some good claret, which I have been extravagant enough to
drink, much to my advantage. The Cape wine is all so fiery. The
climate is improving too. The glorious African sun blazes and
roasts one, and the cool fresh breezes prevent one from feeling
languid. I walk from six till eight or nine, breakfast at ten, and
dine at three; in the afternoon it is generally practicable to
saunter again, now the weather is warmer. I sleep from twelve till
two. On Christmas-eve it was so warm that I lay in bed with the
window wide open, and the stars blazing in. Such stars! they are
much brighter than our moon. The Dutchmen held high jinks in the
hall, and danced and made a great noise. On New Year's-eve they
will have another ball, and I shall look in. Christmas-day was the
hottest day - indeed, the only HOT day we have had - and I could not
make it out at all, or fancy you all cold at home.
I wish you were here to see the curious ways and new aspect of
everything. This village, which, as I have said, is very like
Rochefort, but hardly so large, is the chef lieu of a district the
size of one-third of England. A civil commander resides here, a
sort of prefet; and there is an embryo market-place, with a bell
hanging in a brick arch. When a waggon arrives with goods, it
draws up there, they ring the bell, everybody goes to see what is
for sale, and the goods are sold by auction. My host bought
potatoes and brandy the other day, and is looking out for ostrich
feathers for me, out of the men's hats.
The other day, while we sat at dinner, all the bells began to ring
furiously, and Capt. D- jumped up and shouted 'Brand!' (fire),
rushed off for a stout leather hat, and ran down the street. Out
came all the population, black, white, and brown, awfully excited,
for it was blowing a furious north-wester, right up the town, and
the fire was at the bottom; and as every house is thatched with a
dry brown thatch, we might all have to turn out and see the place
in ashes in less than an hour. Luckily, it was put out directly.
It is supposed to have been set on fire by a Hottentot girl, who
has done the same thing once before, on being scolded.
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