n London and also one in the country; in the vicinity
of the latter there is what is called in England good sport--partridges,
pheasants, hares, and rabbits being numerous. But such sport was to me
dull and uninteresting; I was always remembering my sport in Africa, and
had a longing for again roaming through an African forest in search of
large game; but civilisation had advanced in South Africa, and I heard
that where I had followed the tracks of elephants, sugar plantations and
corn-fields now existed, and that even the Caffres had lost their
simplicity, and were now in that disagreeable condition of being
half-civilised.

My father had retired from the Indian service, and had taken a pretty
house in the country near me, but was often complaining of the climate
and habits of England. To him India was the most charming country in
the world, and the servants in India were the very best. Still he
managed to enjoy himself and passed much of his time with me, listening
to my account of the incidents that had happened to me in Africa.

I had missed in my early youth the training usually given to gentlemen's
sons: I knew but little Greek or Latin; of history I was ignorant; of
mathematics I had but a superficial knowledge. Yet my early training
had been of a very practical kind, and was of benefit to me in
after-life. I had learned to rough it in my youth, and to do everything
for myself. Although I kept many servants, yet I was not dependent on
these, as most people are in civilised countries. I could, if required,
light my own fire and cook my own meals, and I should have felt it no
hardship to do either.

Although I fully appreciated the advantage of a large and well-furnished
house, yet I could have been quite happy in a hut no bigger than a
Caffre kraal. And I had learned the great secret, that if we curtail
our wants, we arrive at the same result, as though we increased our
income. My wants were few, and these I had ample means of supplying.
Instead of working on at my late uncle's business till I became too old
to enjoy freedom, I gave up the business whilst I was still
comparatively young, and devoted my attention to various subjects in
which I was interested; so that, although my early education had been
very different from that of most boys, it had been of a thoroughly
practical kind. I had learned self-dependence and could help myself,
and envied no man. I watched with interest the changes that took