The Boer guns continued to sing inexplicably dumb; Wednesday was dull.  The ladies, who had been pretty free in their criticisms of the Boers, were saying hard things of people nearer home.  They had a grievance against the butcher and his manipulation of the meat.  The clamour at the shambles of the butcher despot was growing in volume.  Hungry masses crowded the shops, and that some should emerge meatless from the melee was inevitable.  Nepotism was reputed to be much in vogue.  The Colonel had curbed the meat vendors in the matter of price; a strictly limited number of oxen were slaughtered daily, but the number was sufficient to provide everyone with his or her half-pound of flesh.  This arrangement, however, was to some extent rendered nugatory by cute people who had what was pithily termed “a leg” of the butcher.  Thus a “friend,” or a monied acquaintance, could get as much meat as he could eat (a good deal!)—­which amounted to the legitimate share of perhaps half a dozen starving creatures who had cash in the bank!  In practice the system of distribution did not work well; the State interference was no doubt a blessing; but it was a mixed blessing.

On Thursday a mounted force re-visited Carter’s Farm to entice the Boers into battle.  In pursuance of this purpose some shells were expended; but the Boers disregarded the challenge.  The rumour-monger, who had an explanation for everything, interpreted their silence to mean that the guns had been requisitioned to oppose the advance of Methuen, who did not seem to be making great headway.  One of the sights of Thursday was a khaki horse!  We were in this connection accustomed to such diversity of shades as black, grey, white, and brown; but a painted quadruped had never before been seen in Kimberley.  The authorities were responsible for the painter’s assault on the lily.  It would appear that a high percentage of white and grey horses had been shot in the several sorties; hence the necessity of varnishing the survivors.  The white animals were more discernible to the eye behind a Mauser.  Condy’s Fluid was the “varnish” utilised; and curious to relate, one noble steed was, not khaki, but green after treatment.  Perhaps he wanted to be shot.

A fund for the benefit of the families whose bread-winners had fallen in the defence of Kimberley was opened on Friday.  The right man put the collection in motion; Mr. Rhodes, on behalf of De Beers, headed the list of subscriptions with ten thousand pounds.  The Diamond Syndicate followed with two thousand.  The Mayor, with the sanction of the Town Council, gave two hundred; and the citizens’ “mites” were very decent indeed.  It was also decided to erect a memorial in honour of the dead; for this object seven hundred pounds was subscribed.  The Refugee Committee continued to perform their duties with unabated energy.  It was creditable to all concerned that nothing was left undone to lighten the burden of the poor; and the deftness—­not to speak of the charity—­of the ladies in the scooping out of meal and sugar was admirable.