[Footnote 20: _Galów, galáw_ or _galá_, a meaningless word, but much used.] [Footnote 21: _Kwan-wán_, a Chinese female divinity represented with a babe in her arms.] [Footnote 22: _Joss-stick_, a stick composed of fragrant gum, etc., burnt as incense.] [Footnote 23: Prayers.] [Footnote 24: _Chin-chin Fô_, worship Buddha.] [Footnote 25: Chinese women believe that by frequent repetition of a prayer to Fô they can secure the privilege of being born again as males.] [Footnote 26: _Dacket_, jacket.] [Footnote 27: _Allo_, all.] [Footnote 28: _Lise_, rise.] [Footnote 29: _Wailo_, run, go.] [Footnote 30: Horror.] [Footnote 31: Run.] [Footnote 32: Fire-crackers.] [Footnote 33: Run round.] [Footnote 34: Children.] [Footnote 35: Scrape.] LETTERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. BY LADY BARKER. MARITZBURG. November, 1875. The weather at the beginning of this month was lovely and the climate perfection, but now (I am writing on its last day) it is getting very hot and trying. If ever people might stand excused for talking about the weather when they meet, it is we Natalians, for, especially at this time of year, it varies from hour to hour. All along the coast one hears of terrible buffeting and knocking about among the shipping in the open roadsteads which have to do duty for harbors in these parts; and it was only a few days ago that the lifeboat, with the English mail on board, capsized in crossing the bar at D'Urban. The telegram was--as telegrams always are--terrifying in its vagueness, and spoke of the mail-bags as "floating about." When one remembers the vast size of the breakers on which this floating would take place, it sounded hopeless for our letters. They turned up, however, a few days later--in a pulpy state, it is true, but quite readable, though the envelopes were curiously blended and engrafted upon the letters inside--so much so that they required to be taken together, for it was impossible to separate them. I had recourse to the expedient of spreading my letters on a dry towel and draining them before attempting to dissever the leaves. Still, we were all only too thankful to get our correspondence in any shape or form, for precious beyond the power of words to express are home-letters to us, so far away from home.