ABSTRACT
But the worst wild beasts with which I had to deal were human. In order to induce labourers to come into such a district, wages at high rates were offered, and even then the white men were, to a large extent, the most cut-throat-looking rascals that I ever had to deal with—ship deserters and others of all nations, Greeks, Italians, French, and English. Besides these, were imported Zulus, Kaffirs, Basutos, who were specially sent with their headmen from the eastern provinces and Zululand. Some of these had come across country under the leadership of a Captain R—, a rollicking Irishman who had gained their confidence, and spoke some of their languages fluently. He trusted them so much that he was unarmed on his long journey, only carrying a shillelagh or knobkerry, as it is locally named.
