to ventilate; foul.

Visited old Mr. Van Heerde; very bad; wife "praat soos een boek"
(talks like a book); quite a change to do a bit of listening on
points of Theology!

Found the Fouries of first day; daughter much better.

The quack doctor deserves to be kicked; found bottle of medicine on
table somewhere; pure water; five shillings. He is coining money and
fleecing people most scandalously; child now luckily in hospital;
spoke strongly to parents on the point.

In hospital things are rather glum; Miss Snyman utterly weak and
fearfully excited; hysterical girl still alive; so are all others;
but I fear some of them won't see light of morning.

Doctor actually in bed in hospital; bad too; rather a sell; tables
cruelly turned on us.

* * * * *

Tuesday, September 10.--Ladies' Commission here again; can more or
less predict what report will be.[37]

Rain all night; soaking showers; this morning everything very muddy;
some streets in Camp awful; and then to see the "gesukel" (distress)
this morning all round among the women trying to cook breakfast.

Yesterday met several women carrying heavy buckets of water; "Dit is
daarom nie vrouwen's werk nie" (This truly is not work for women).

The women here have a rough time; what with no servants, no kitchen,
scanty wood, and poor rations; it is hard to make ends meet. Were it
not for the little extras[38] we have (golden syrup, jam, oatmeal,
tea and until yesterday fat), I wonder what I would do.

Went to village to-day; nothing to be had there; was absolutely
refused permit for rice and beans; got 4 lbs. peas; candles not to be
had for love or money; dined Beckers.

Owing to presence of Ladies' Commission, unable to do my daily visit
to hospital; three have died--Mrs. Kruger, Miss Ackerman, and a lad
of seventeen.

Superintendent called me to-day, and said I could issue "briefies"
(notes) for food to-morrow; very glad, for I know many tents where
there is dire distress.

Very weary and sickish; eager for bed.

Funerals nine; "U te kennen is het eeuwige leven" (To know Thee is
life everlasting."

Yesterday Mr. Becker buried eleven.

* * * * *

To-day most were in blankets.

Wednesday, September 11.--Waylaid doctor; throat bad; got two bottles
medicine; seedy.

34 and 71 great distress; the girl in 71 actually still alive; some
people die hard.

Hurried back to hospital; Miss Snyman now