Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa from 1873 to 1884, Volume 1 (1919).djvu/144

 124 History of the Cape Colony. [1878 On arriving in Capetown they were taken to a very large building in the southern suburb, and were placed under the care of Dr. Clinton, who had charge of the place. There they soon regained flesh, and in the course of a month were as strong and thoughtless as ever. The government imported maize from South America, which cost less than a third of the price on the frontier, and maize meal from the United States, which with butchers' meat once a week, and pumpkins when they could be obtained, constituted their diet. They had never in their lives before had a better or more regular supply of food. As soon as they were quite strong they were moved in parties of three or four hundred together to stations in the country districts, where they could be more comfort- able than in Capetown. No direct pressure was put upon them to enter service, but as it was clearly to their advantage to do so, most of them voluntarily engaged as domestics. Beyond food, lodging, medical attendance, and a blanket for each individual, the government provided them with nothing, and they craved for handkerchiefs to cover their heads with and for pipes and tobacco, which most Kaffir women regard as essentials of comfortable existence. To obtain these they were willing to enter into service, and the government was equally willing that they should do so. But it was never their intention to remain long in the western districts, and as soon as the cold winter weather was over and they could sleep without discom- fort in the open air, they began to desert and make their way back to the scenes of their childhood, where they could see the peak of Intaba-ka-Ndoda and drink the sweet water of the Keiskama once more. The long walk of five or six hundred miles had no terror for them. They would beg from the farmers or would work for a day or a week on the road to get food for a few days more, and then push on, ever eastward, until at last the mountain they knew so well rose before thei