land, now that the danger is over a great many of them
would like to kick down the bridge which has helped them over the
stream. They make no secret of their dislike to Englishmen, and
although they are glad enough to sell their land at prices immensely in
advance of the former value, for indeed land was previously almost
unsaleable in the Transvaal, they are on bad terms with them. One of my
informants describes them as a sullen, sulky people, and predicts that
sooner or later we shall have trouble with them; so I thought it better
altogether to pay a little higher for my land, and to be within the
boundaries of this colony."

On arriving at the farm Mrs Humphreys was glad to find that the house,
though rough, was substantial. It was built of stone. The walls were
of great thickness, as the stones were laid without mortar, with which,
however, it was faced inside and out. One large room occupied the
greater portion of the ground floor; beside this was a small
sitting-room. Upstairs were four bedrooms. For the time the small room
downstairs was turned into a bedroom, which Mr and Mrs Humphreys
occupied. The four bedrooms upstairs just held the rest of the party.
The out-houses consisted only of a large barn and a rough stable.

Mr Humphreys at once rode over to Newcastle, and obtained the services
of a mason and six Kaffirs, and proceeded to add a wing to the
farmhouse. This was for the use of Johnson and his wife, and Harrison.
The whole party were, however, to take their meals together in the great
kitchen. A hut was also built for the Kaffirs, and another large stable
was erected.

A few days after his arrival Mr Humphreys went across the border into
the Transvaal, taking Harrison and two of the Kaffirs with him, and
returned a fortnight later with a herd of 400 cattle, which he had
purchased. He also bought three yoke of oxen, broken to the plough.
Hitherto the farm had been purely a pastoral one, but Mr Humphreys at
once began to break up some land for wheat and Indian corn. The Kaffirs
were set to work to fence and dig up a plot round the house for
vegetables, and to dig holes near it, over a space of some acres, for
the reception of 3000 young fruit-trees--apples, pears, peaches, and
plums,--which he had bought at Pieter-Maritzburg, and which were to come
up in two months' time. He also bought six riding-horses.

In a few weeks the farm assumed quite a different appearance. A gang of
Kaffirs, te