The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bush Boys, by Captain Mayne Reid

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: The Bush Boys
History and Adventures of a Cape Farmer and his Family

Author: Captain Mayne Reid

Release Date: April 27, 2007 [EBook #21237]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BUSH BOYS ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

The Bush Boys
History and Adventures of a Cape Farmer and his Family

By Captain Mayne Reid
________________________________________________________________________
This is not quite your usual style of book by Mayne Reid. We are used
to books about the Mexican War, and similar topics, books where there
are plenty of words and expressions in Mexican-Spanish. In this book
there are equally plenty of words and expressions in Africaans, the
variety of Dutch spoken originally by the Boers (Boors in this book),
the Dutch farmers.

The book is a very good introduction to the animals, both mammals and
birds, of South Africa. The snakes get a mention, too. Several very
tense moments are built up, and you will be wondering right up to the
very last moment how whoever is involved in the story, is going to get
out of the situation. Recommended as perhaps one of the best books by
this prolific author. NH
________________________________________________________________________

THE BUSH BOYS
HISTORY AND ADVENTURES OF A CAPE FARMER AND HIS FAMILY

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID

CHAPTER ONE.

THE BOORS.

Hendrik Von Bloom was a _boor_.

My young English reader, do not suppose that I mean any disrespect to
Mynheer Von Bloom, by calling him a "boor." In our good Cape colony a
"boor" is a farmer. It is no reproach to be called a farmer. Von Bloom
was one--a Dutch farmer of the Cape--a boor.

The boors of the Cape colony have figured very considerably in modern
history. Although naturally a people inclined to peace, they have been
forced into various wars, both with native Africans and Europeans; and
in these wars they have acquitted themselves admirably, and given proofs
that a pacific people when need be can fight just as well as those who
are continually exulting in the