“at home,” and that all events in their lives are dated from those precious days in England; and then, when the time comes to return to duty, they probably depart without a murmur, and very few, if any, would exchange a life in an office, or that of any ordinary profession in England, for the one, untrammelled and free, they lead in the wilds of Africa.  As distractions in this life which they love, they can only look to the weekly mail and the goodly supply of illustrated papers from home, the attentive perusal of which has made them almost as conversant as the veriest Cockney with all the people of note and the fair women of the time, besides giving them an intimate knowledge of passing events.  As hosts they are perfection, and all they have is at their guests’ disposal.  Their incentive to the great work for ever going on, not only in their district, but in so many far-away localities where the Union Jack flies, is the knowledge that the dark clouds of oppression, plunder, and crime, are, in consequence of their efforts, rolling away as mists disappear before the rising sun.

FOOTNOTES: 

[44] Some parts of this chapter appeared in the Christmas number of the Pall Mall Magazine, 1903, and in the Bulawayo Chronicle of the same date.

[45] Introduction to Mr. Grogan’s work, “From the Cape to Cairo.”

[46] Sir Charles Metcalfe, Bart., consulting engineer of the Chartered Company, and Mr. G. Pauling, contractor for the same company.

[47] R.T.  Coryndon, Esq.

[48] “Life and Adventures in South-East Africa,” by F.C.  Selous.

[49] Wacht-een-bietze.

[50] The seat of government has since been transferred to Livingstone, on the Zambesi.

[51] A kind of pheasant.

APPENDIX I

MAFEKING RELIEF FUND

Distribution Committee.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL C.B.  VYVYAN, Commandant of Mafeking.

MR. C.G.  BELL, Resident Magistrate.

MR. A.H.  FREND, Mayor.

     Total amount made available for distribution L29,267

Of which the Committee allotted to:  L
Widows and orphans 6,536
Refugees 4,630
Town relief 3,741
Seaside Fund 2,900
Churches, convent, schools, etc. 2,900
Wounded men 2,245
Small tradesmen 1,765
Hospital staff, nuns, etc. 1,115
Colonel Plumer’s Rhodesian Column, etc. 1,000
-------
L26,832

June 6, 1909.

The “Rainy Day Fund,” formed from the balance of the Relief Fund, still exists, and though the amount now in it is small, it is sufficient to enable the Trustees (Mayor of Mafeking and Civil Commissioner) to make occasional grants in cases of distress among those who suffered during the siege, or who have fallen on evil days since.