ballast
heavy material that is placed in the hold of a ship to enhance stability
bigfeet
a colloquial term for the elephants populating the forest
bluebuck
a type of blue antelope that was native to South Africa and is now extinct
brig
a two-masted sailing vessel, square-rigged on both masts
brusque
abrupt and curt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt
cajole
to persuade by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language
enmity
deep-seated, often mutual hatred
forlorn
pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely
foundling
an infant that has been abandoned by its parents and is cared for by others
kloof
a ravine or gully
magistrate
a judge or justice of a local or inferior court; a justice of the peace
motley
incongruously varied in appearance or character
mouth-organ
another name for the instrument known as the harmonica
nightjars
a variety of nocturnal birds
obstinacy
the quality or condition of being obstinate, or stubborn
tickey
a term signifying threepence, or three pennies
trestle
a horizontal beam or bar held up by two pairs of divergent legs and used as a support
veld
the open pasture land or grazing areas of southern Africa
verandah
a roofed platform along the outside of a home
wallop
to beat forcefully; a vigorous blow
