The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-06

biots or vapor wrote one great word across the surface of the country, and that word was fcver.'
 ct was dreadful year of illness, that. l came, remember, to one little kraal of Knobnoses, and went up to see if l could get some mass (curdled buttermilk) and few mealies. As got near was struck with the silence of the place. No chil- dren began to chatter, and no dogs parked. Nor could l see any native sheep or cattle The place, tho gh it had evidently been recently inhabited, was as still as the bush round it, and some guinea fowl got up out of the prickly pear bushes right at the naal gate. remember that hesitated little before going in, there was such an air of desolation about the spot. Nature never looks desolate when man has not yet laid uis hand upon her breast; she is only lonely. But when man has been and has passed away, then she looks desolate.
 "Well, passed into the kraal, and went up to the principal hut. In front of the hut was something with an old sheep. skin kaross (rug) thrown over it. l stopped down and threw off the rug, and then shrank back amazed, for under it was the body of young woman recently dead. For a moment thought of turn ing back, but my curiosity overcame me so going past the woman, went do VII on my hands and knees and crept into the hut It was so dark that could not sec anything, though could smell a great deal-so lit a match. It was a taud- stickor' match, and burnt slowly and dimly, and as the light gradually in- creased made out what thought was q lot of fpeople men, women, and children, fast asleep. Presently 1t burnt up brightly, and saw that they too, five of them alto gether, were quite dead. One was a baby. l dropped the match in hurry, and was making my way out of the hut as could go, when caught sight of two bright eyes staring out of a corner Thinking 1t was wild Cat or some such animal, redoubled my haste, when sud. denly avoice near the eyes began to nut ter, and then to send up a succession of awful yells. Hastily lit another match and perceived that the eyes belonged to an old woman, wrapped up in greasy leather garment. Taking her oy the arm, 1 dragged her out, for she could not. or would not, come by herself, and the stench was overpowering me. Such a sight as she was-a bag of bones, GOV cred over with black shrivelled paIch- ment. The only white thing about her was her wool, and she seemed to be pretty we'll dead except for her eyes an her voice. She thought that was devil come to take her, and that is why she yelled so. We'll. got her down to the wagon, and gave her tot of Cape smoke, and then, as soon as it was ready poured about pint of beef tea down her throat, made from the flesh of blue vil- derbeeste had killed the day before, and after that she frightened up wonderfully She could talk Zala-indeed, it turned out that she had run away from Z Zaluland in T'ChAka's time and she told me that all the people that had seen had died of fever. When they had died, the other inhabitants of the kraal had taken the cattle and gone away, leaving the poor old woman, who was helpless from age and ln6rmity, to perish of starvation or disease as the case might be. She had been sitting there for three days among the bodies when found her. took her on to the next kraal, and gave the head man blanket to look after her, promis- ing him another if found her well when 1 came back. l remember that he was much astonished at my parting with two blankets for the sake of such a worthless old creature. Why did not leave her In the bush?' he asked. Those people carry the doctrine of the survival of the Attest to its extreme, you see.
 "lt was the night after had got rid of thA old wnon fh | ada xV,g 6vrk ar quAintance with my friend yonder," and ne nodded toward the skull that seemed to be grinning down at us in the shadow of the wide mantelshelf e had trekked from dawn till eleven o'clock-a long trek-but wanted to get on and then had the oxen turned out to graze, sending the voorlooper to look after them, mean ing to inspan again about six o'clock, and trek with the moon till ten. Then 1 got into the wagon and had good sleep till half-pAst two or so in the afternoon, when got up an cooked some meat, and had my dinner, washing it down with a pannilkin Of black coffee-for 1t was diff cult to get preserved milk in those days. Just as had finished, and the driver, 6 man called Tom, was washing up the things, in comes the young scoundrel of a veorlooper driving one OK before him.
 "' Where arc the ether oxen P asked.
 "Koosl' he said, Koos (chief) the other oxen have gone away. turned my back for a minute, and when looked round again they were all gone except Kaptein here, who was rubbing his back against tree.'
 "'You mean that you have been asleep, and let them stray, you villain. will rub your back against a stick answered, feeling very angry, for it was not pleas ant prospect to be stuck up in that fever trap for week or so while we were hunt ing for the oxen. 'OG you go, and you too, Tom, and mind you don't come back till you have found them. They have trekked back along the Middleburg road, and are dozen miles of by now, I'll be bound. Now, no words :; go both of you
 "Tom, tho driver, swore and caugh, the lad hearty hck, which he richly deeervaN and Sh~v hov;cu tiad o1d Y .c.