small number of oxen. They took two days to accomplish the
journey, the women sleeping at night in the waggon, and Mr Humphreys
and his sons in blankets on the ground.

The driver, who was an Englishman, had been many years in the colony,
and from him, upon the road, Mr Humphreys gained much valuable
information about the country. The driver was assisted by two Kaffirs,
one of whom walked ahead of the leading cattle, the other alongside,
shouting and prodding them.

The boys were astonished at the power and accuracy with which the driver
whirled his whip; this had a short handle and a lash of twenty yards
long, and with it he was able to hit any animal of the team with
absolute certainty, and indeed to make the thong alight on any part of
their bodies at which he aimed.

On their arrival at Pieter-Maritzburg Mr Humphreys hired a house, and
here he placed his party while he set to work to make inquiries after a
suitable location. He soon heard of several places which seemed
suitable, and having bought a horse started for Newcastle, a small town
situated close to the frontier-line between the Transvaal and Natal.

He was away for three weeks, and on his return informed his wife that he
had purchased a farm of 2000 acres, with a substantial farmhouse, at a
distance of ten miles from Newcastle, for the sum of 1500 pounds.

The farmhouse was already roughly furnished, but Mr Humphreys purchased
a number of other articles, which would make it comfortable and
home-like. He laid in a great stock of groceries, and then hiring a
waggon, similar to that in which they had before travelled, started with
his party for the farm, having also hired four Kaffirs to assist there.
Travelling by easy stages, it took them twelve days to get to Newcastle.
The country was undulating and the road rose steadily the whole
distance.

Near Pieter-Maritzburg the population was comparatively thick. The
fields were well cultivated and the vegetation thick and luxuriant, but
as they ascended the character of the country changed. Vast stretches
of rolling grass everywhere met the eye. This was now beautifully
green, for it was winter. In the summer and autumn the grass becomes
dry and burnt up; fire is then applied to it, and the whole country
assumes a black mantle. But the first shower of rain brings up the
young grass and in a very short time the country is covered with fresh
verdure.

Mr Humphreys told his wife that, before fixing