his mule, telling us that he had fled from the Van Voorens because he
could no longer bear witness to the things that were practised at their
stead, we engaged him to teach Ralph and Suzanne. He remained with us
six years, by which time both the children had got much learning from
him; though how much it is not for me, who have none, to judge. They
learnt history and reading and writing, and something of the English
tongue, but I need scarcely say that I would not suffer him to teach
them to pry into the mystery of God's stars, as he wished to do, for I
hold that such lore is impious and akin to witchcraft of which I have
seen enough from Sihamba and others.

I asked this Hollander more particularly why he had fled from the Van
Voorens, but he would tell me little more than that it was because of
the wizardries practised there. If I might believe him, the Heer
Van Vooren made a custom of entertaining Kaffir witch doctors and
doctoresses at his house, and of celebrating with them secret and
devilish rites, to which his son, Swart Piet, was initiated in his
presence. That this last story was true I have no doubt indeed, seeing
that the events of after years prove it to have been so.

Well, at last the Hollander left us to marry a rich old vrouw twenty
years his senior, and that is all I have to say about him, except that
if possible I disliked him more when he walked out of the house than
when he walked in; though why I should have done so I do not know, for
he was a harmless body. Perhaps it was because he played the flute,
which I have always thought contemptible in a man.



CHAPTER IV