St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-09-30
NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.
Terrible Discomforts Of Post Cart
Travelling the wilde Of
South Africa.

lathe old days, while in South Africa,
the traveller had to trust himself to the
tender mercies of the POST contractor,
and we did SO, as rule, in fear and
trembling. There were, as in all else,
degrees in the various services, but the
man who could have found pleasure in
a trip even on the best roads must have
indeed possessed disposition OF which
Mark Tapley might have been proud.
In some OF the services on the principal
routes from the Cape Colony and Natal
the carts were well horsed, the drivers
were thoroughly up to their work, and
the conditions were made rs desirable
as was possible under the circum.
stances. But the carts had been built
to suit the roads. the space was strictly
limited, and the mails would absorb .
considerable quantity of this space.
and the unfortunate passenger. jammed
in between a couple of other unfortun-
ates, his knees compressed against
pile of bags and his back sore from con-
slant friction against the seat. would
sit in silent agony until his destination
was reached-the only relief obtain
able being when the cart stopped for
the night and the weary traveller could
throw himself partly dressed on bed
to snatch few hours sleep before the
drivers call at the earliest dawn
warned him that the dread hour had ar
rived for him to again take his seat in
the cart.
The start from town WIS always OF
the same nature. The four or Blk
horses would stand paving the ground
while couple of Hottentots would
hang on to their heads, the driver
would gather up the reins, and crack
his whip. the boys would spring 10 one
side. and the equipage would disap-
pear in cloud of dust in the dis lance.
On some lines this would hold good at
all the various stopping places. hut in
others. once the first halt was reached.
and civilization left behind. span OF
weary mules would be dragged reluc-
tantly forth, and the travellers heart
would sink into his boots, and he would
glance reproachfully at the driver.
The mules would be inspanned and .
fresh start made, and the drivers as
sistant would bring forth his short
''sjambok" and prepare for business.
Tender-hearted travellers would ut first
sympathize with the mules; later their
sympathy would be transferred to the
wretched boy who had to urge them on,
by jumping down from the cart every
few minutes, and running alongside
the animals and belaboring them.
After time the travellers sympathy
for both would have vanished, and he
would mentally consign both to the
neither world. When the boy climbed
on the cart at intervals the passengers
would draw deep breaths. Every
thing comes to him who waits" and at
length stage would be reached on the
confines of civilization where span of
horses would be produced and bet
ter start made. Like the Irish jarvey.
the post cart driver firmly believed in
Saving a trot for the avenue" and the
coach would wheel into the village in
a blaze of glory, the driver awakening
the echoes with a shrill blast from his
bugle.
The village would turn out to see "the
Cart arrive. The postmaster would
pull himself together and assume a Sc
we're judicial expression as of one who
had weighty business on his hands
and must not be lightly approached
The cart would pull up at the post of
fee and disgorge the mail. and then
would make for the hotel. and the trav.
eler would alight to De welcomed by
the host at the hospitable portals. The
village would by this time be at the post
Office clamoring for their letters and
passing unpleasant remarks as to the
dilatoriness of the postmaster. heed
less of the fact that that official was
working like galley slave inside.
The little window would at length be
thrown open and the public would re-
ceive their mail. and the postmaster
would draw breath of relief and re-
tire into the innermost recesses of his
dwelling, and peaceful night would
once more settle down on the village
South Africa.