The Norwegian, British and German immigrants who arrived settled mainly on farms in the district; it was primarily Indian traders in the town itself. Apart from the golf course across the river, the town was surrounded by a natural bush unspoiled by human meddling.
The bridge across the river served both road traffic and the train. There was no warning of an approaching train or barriers restraining road traffic. Crossing the bridge in a car was a noisy experience owing to the loose wooden timbers that served as a road.
My mother knew of the dangers of machine guns and water, but African bush was beyond her comprehension. Where we initially settled, there were few children, mostly older and rough. I spent my days alone roaming the bush and the river banks.
I was familiar with the long green snakes, hopefully, grass snakes and the riverside reeds teeming with birds busily building nests on the long stalks.
Chameleons fascinated me with their ability to change colour and eyes that could swivel around while seeking prey. Every daisy in the garden had a small "daisy beetle" in the centre. In the evening, the roadsides swarmed with fireflies and glow worms.
I was surrounded by wildlife. Even today, I remember very little of home life, my mother or anything else during that period before being introduced to school life. My parents were always very busy with response to the demands of the war.
Periodically, my mother and I would take the train to visit Molly, my half-sister in Durban. It was a five-hour journey, mostly at night. No lights were allowed owing to the possibility of enemy submarines off the coast. There were many rivers to cross, and the train would crawl across the rickety bridges at a snail's pace.
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