Grape robbers in court

The two boys who stole the grapes in Pniel, were called to appear before a magistrate. If found guilty, they would have a criminal record; a disaster for a boy of mixed race in early 20th century South Africa. It was summer time, hot and dry and one of the locals, having bought a car, offered to take the old chap who was the accuser to court. If you think it is odd that a man of mixed race should own a car, it is because you don't know the people in Pniel. But to our tale! Despite the case being only scheduled for the afternoon, the old chap was picked up early, so that he would not be late, even if there was trouble with the horseless carriage. As it grew hotter the driver stopped to refresh himself at a hostelry and the old chap, freed from the oversight of the predicant, took his mornings. As the heat grew, the car stopped more often, so that, by the time it reached the court it was lunch time and time for a decent lunch and something to wash it down, then forty winks. The court convened at 2pm but, as the witness for the prosecution was sound asleep in the car, the case was dismissed and the boys set free. That's the kind of village Pniel turned out to be. It could have been Cairndhu or anywhere else in Scotland.

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