but he was insatiably curious, and he affected me with his
interest. 'This place, Blaauwildebeestefontein,' he used to say,
'is among the Zoutpansberg mountains, and as far as I can
see, not above ninety miles from the railroad. It looks from the
map a well-watered country, and the Agent-General in London
told me it was healthy or I wouldn't have taken the job. It
seems we'll be in the heart of native reserves up there, for
here's a list of chiefs - 'Mpefu, Sikitola, Majinje, Magata; and
there are no white men living to the east of us because of the
fever. The name means the "spring of the blue wildebeeste,"
whatever fearsome animal that may be. It sounds like a place
for adventure, Mr Crawfurd. You'll exploit the pockets of the
black men and I'll see what I can do with their minds.'
There was another steerage passenger whom I could not
help observing because of my dislike of his appearance. He,
too, was a little man, by name Henriques, and in looks the
most atrocious villain I have ever clapped eyes on. He had a
face the colour of French mustard - a sort of dirty green - and
bloodshot, beady eyes with the whites all yellowed with fever.
He had waxed moustaches, and a curious, furtive way of
walking and looking about him. We of the steerage were
careless in our dress, but he was always clad in immaculate
white linen, with pointed, yellow shoes to match his
complexion. He spoke to no one, but smoked long cheroots all day
in the stern of the ship, and studied a greasy pocket-book.
Once I tripped over him in the dark, and he turned on me
with a snarl and an oath. I was short enough with him in
return, and he looked as if he could knife me.

'I'll wager that fellow has been a slave-driver in his time,' I