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HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, JOHANNESBURG
Aug: 9: 1902
My dear old Nan
I was very glad to get your letter & to hear that the travellers had returned. I see you have been as shocked as I was at their appearance. I do hope my old mother will soon pick up. Even before her blood-poisoning, when I was down at P.E., she looked a ghost, & the Mhor had aged centuries. I hope he will soon fill out into the blooming child he used to be at the Bamflat.
Today we crown the King. We had a big
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message from him last night which I deciphered and published in a special Gazette. I am wearing patent boots and a frock coat, having just come from church. To-morrow I go off to the wilds for 10 days. It is with the greatest difficulty I can get away, but the matter is urgent & I want a holiday also. I think I shall have an excellent time. I have 2 Cape carts, a spring wagon & 8 mules, & 2 riding horses: a guide, 2 Kaffir servants, & an old Zulu for a cook. It will be an odd experience staying with old Boers & interviewing native chiefs. I hope to pick up some trophies and get a little shooting. Brook has come back from
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a sporting trip & brought me a hippopotamus hide & a fine springbok kaross.
I hope my aged brother William will have a tolerable time in London during August. I have just heard from Cubby Medd that his mother is dying – poor fellow. I was dining with the Lytteltons last night & took the small girls to the Pantomime, sorely against my will.
I feel much more satisfied with my work now. H.E. says I have had far the heaviest end of the stick: but I have made progress – good permanent progress, & the very people who chased me are coming round to me now. It is a fine philosophy to 'pay no attention?' – I wish H.E. had a little more of it, & was not so
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sensitive.
As you know, I am very sorry, but I forgot to get Lord K. to sign a photograph before he left; so there is no chance till we meet again – possibly in India. I can't make out H.E.'s intention. At one time I thought he would go into home politics: but he told me the other day that he loathed home politics. I fancy he will go to India to succeed Curzon.
Take great care of my old mother. I hope the quiet life of the Bamflat will set her up. My love to all the decent folk there & at Broughton & at Peebles.
Your affectionate brother
Jock o' the Veld (late Heather Jock]
