It apparently possesses the delightful qualification of being able to travel on any road, no matter how rough, without breaking down or turning over; in fact, when travelling by road in Africa, it facilitates matters as much as the employment of a charwoman oils the wheels in an English household, and it is therefore as much to be recommended.
We ride for an hour or so with coats tightly buttoned up, blue noses, and frozen fingers--for the hoar-frost still lingers on the ground--but the air is delightfully exhilarating, and we know that we shall not have to complain of the cold long.

By degrees the sun makes itself felt, and we discard first one wrap and then another, till by ten o'clock even light overcoats are not required.

And now it is time to "off-saddle" and breakfast.

The carriers straggle in more or less in the order they left, but they gladly "dump" down their loads, and before many minutes the fire is burning and the breakfast frizzling.

After breakfast comes the midday rest of two or three hours, beguiled by some ancient newspapers or some dust-begrimed book.