“Have you been long settled in this country, Mr Bilderjik?” asked George, as they drew rein after a sharp ride of half an hour.
“Do you mean in South Africa, or in Natal?”
“I mean in Africa generally. How long is it since you left Europe?”
“A great many years—five-and-thirty or so. It is certainly nearly that time since I landed at Cape Town, and was sent up to Namaqualand.”
“Ah, you have been there, among the Hottentots?”
“I was about five years there.”
“Were you settled in one place, or did you travel about?”
“My residence was always in the same place, but I and my wife made continual excursions into different parts of the country.”
“Did you find the people willing to receive you?”
“That is a question which it is not easy to answer,” said the Swedish minister. “They showed no dislike to us; indeed, they were willing enough to listen, but, I fear, to very little purpose. For the first two or three years, I continually fancied that I was making some progress, getting some hold upon them. But I am afraid it was nearly all fancy.”