One of the nurses brought me some lunch and spread it on the rickety table, with a dirty napkin as a tablecloth.

As regards the food, which these young ladies told me they took it in turn to cook, it was very fair; only one day we got no meat and no meal; the other days they gave me eggs, very good beef, splendid potatoes, and bread in any quantity.

Besides this, I was able to buy delicious fruit, both figs and apricots.

As beverages there were tea and coffee, the latter, of course, being the Transvaal national drink--that is to say, when "dop" cannot be had.

Beer is almost unknown, except the imported kinds of Bass and Schlitz, for what is known as "Kaffir beer" is a filthy decoction.