C'est Assez Dire, That I Should Have Had No Scruple In
Buying It For A Bottle Of 'smoke' (The Spirit Made From Grape
Husks).
They are clever and affectionate when they have a chance,
poor things, - and so strange to look at.
By the bye, a Bonn man, Dr. Bleek, called here with 'Grusse' from
our old friends, Professor Mendelssohn and his wife. He is
devoting himself to Hottentot and aboriginal literature! - and has
actually mastered the Caffre click, which I vainly practised under
Kleenboy's tuition. He wanted to teach me to say 'Tkorkha', which
means 'you lie', or 'you have missed' (in shooting or throwing a
stone, &c.) - a curious combination of meanings. He taught me to
throw stones or a stick at him, which he always avoided, however
close they fell, and cried 'Tkorkha!' The Caffres ask for a
present, 'Tkzeelah Tabak', 'a gift for tobacco'.
The Farnese Hercules is a living TRUTH. I saw him in the street
two days ago, and he was a Caffre coolie. The proportions of the
head and throat were more wonderful in flesh, or muscle rather,
than in marble. I know a Caffre girl of thirteen, who is a noble
model of strength and beauty; such an arm - larger than any white
woman's - with such a dimple in her elbow, and a wrist and hand
which no glove is small enough to fit - and a noble countenance too.
She is 'apprenticed', a name for temporary slavery, and is highly
spoken of as a servant, as the Caffres always are. They are a
majestic race, but with just the stupid conceit of a certain sort
of Englishmen; the women and girls seem charming.
Easter Sunday. - The weather continues beautifully clear and bright,
like the finest European spring. It seems so strange for the
floral season to be the winter. But as the wind blows the air is
quite cold to-day; nevertheless, I feel much better the last two
days. The brewing of the rain made the air very oppressive and
heavy for three weeks, but now it is as light as possible.
I must say good-bye, as the mail closes to-morrow morning. Easter
in autumn is preposterous, only the autumn looks like spring. The
consumptive young girl whom I packed off to the Cape, and her
sister, are about to be married - of course. Annie has had a touch
of Algoa Bay fever, a mild kind of ague, but no sign of chest
disease, or even delicacy. My 'hurrying her off', which some
people thought so cruel, has saved her. Whoever comes SOON ENOUGH
recovers, but for people far gone it is too bracing.
LETTER XIV
Capetown, Saturday, May 3d.
Dearest mother,
After five weeks of waiting and worry, I have, at last, sent my
goods on board the ship Camperdown, now discharging her cargo, and
about to take a small party of passengers from the Cape. I offered
to take a cabin in a Swedish ship, bound for Falmouth; but the
captain could not decide whether he would take a passenger; and
while he hesitated the old Camperdown came in.
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