LANDS-CAPE POLITICS.

Haven’t time to send you much information this week, as We,—­the firm of Self and Corresponding Captain,—­have had to write rather a heavy packet for the Daily Graphic.  I suppose you will have got Herr Von GERMAN EMPEROR with you by the time you receive this from yours truly; or His Imperialness may have quitted your,—­that is, our, though I’m here now,—­hospitable shores. A propos of Hospitable Shores, remember me to the most hospitable of all Shores—­Captain SHAW—­of the Fire-and-Water Brigade.  My companions—­“Jolly companions everyone”—­the Cautious Captain, or the Wily WILLIAMS, Doubting Doctor, Energetic Engineer, all well.  Wily WILLIAMS hard at his MS., giving an account of the “agricultural and mineral resources” of the What-can-the-Matterbeland, “through the instrumentality of the Chartered Company.”  He’s great at this.  Think I shall start new Company—­“The Chartered Libertine.”  If my memory doesn’t fail me, that’s a Shakspearian title.  But who was the “Chartered Libertine”?  I notice these South-African States are independent of Home Government.  ’Pon my word, I fancy W.E.G. was right about Home Rule.  On whose shoulders can the G.O.M.’s mantle fall, without enveloping him in entire obscurity, except on those of the Leader or the once united, but now fractured quartette party, “quorum pars magna fui?” I still keep up my Latin, you see.  I wasn’t sent to Eton for nothing; nor was any other boy that I’ve ever heard of.

[Illustration:  Caperycornamental Hairdressing.]

CAPERS.

No wonder we’ve had so many dancing parties at the Cape, when all the inhabitants are Capers.  I make this a present to my dear old DRUMMY; he can bring it out in his new Persian Joe Miller.  Cheeky little street-boys give you Capers’ sauce.  They can lead you a pretty dance if you chivy them.

AMUSEMENTS OF THE BOERS.

To-day came across a Peep-Boer-Show.  Seen it all before.  Also a kind of Punch-and-Judy performance going on, translated into South-African dialect.  There was not a paying public to witness it; and, with all my desire and with every intention to encourage native talent, I was compelled to turn away, “more in sorrow than in anger,” (SHAKSPEARE again—­Hamlet’s Ghost, I think,) when the pipe-and-drummer man came to me for a contribution.  Not a penny in my pocket.  “I will reimburse thee nobly,” said I, “on my return from the Mine-land.”  He quoted some line or other, which I did not catch, and gave the name of the writer, one “WALKER,” as his authority.  WALKER is associated in my mind with an English Dictionary, but, though it has been much added to in recent years, I doubt whether the words the Showman used on this occasion can be found in my pocket edition, or in any other edition of that excellent and trustworthy compilation.

[Illustration:  Native Masher from Masherland.]