Besides this, I was
able to buy delicious fruit, both figs and apricots. As beverages there
were tea and coffee, the latter, of course, being the Transvaal national
drink--that is to say, when "dop" cannot be had. Beer is almost unknown,
except the imported kinds of Bass and Schlitz, for what is known as
"Kaffir beer" is a filthy decoction. About midday I received a formal
reply from Gordon, as follows:
"MAFEKING," _December 3, 1899._
"MY DEAR SARAH,
"I am delighted to hear you are being well treated, but very
sorry to have to tell you that Colonel Baden-Powell finds it
impossible to hand over Petrus Viljoen in exchange for you, as
he was convicted of horse-stealing before the war. I fail to
see in what way it can benefit your captors to keep you a
prisoner. Luckily for them, it is not the custom of the
English to make prisoners of war of women.
"GORDON WILSON."
Of course I was grievously disappointed, but at the same time I had
really expected no other answer, as I informed Mr. Brink (the General's
second secretary), who had brought me the letter. He was gravely
apologetic, and informed me the General and Commandant were holding a
Kriegsraad early on the following morning, when my case would receive
their full consideration.
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