In this spot, when evening came on, I prepared, at the distance
of a score yards from where Speelman and Philip had their fire, a
place on the slope of the grassy bank, where I might conveniently
pass the night. The weather was delightfully serene, and without
the least dew. A blazing fire of dry acacia wood, enabled me to
write my journal and arrange the memoranda of the day. As
we had brought neither gridiron nor plates, a forked stick, about two
feet long, supplied the place of both. On this fork a steak of our
hippopotamus was stuck ; while the lower end of it being pointed,
was thrust into the ground close to the fire. As soon as the meat
was broiled, at what I might call my kitchen fire, Philip brought it
to where I was sitting, and stuck it before me in the ground. The
luxuries-and accommodations of the dining-room, were here reduced
to their simplest forms ; the grassy bank, the forked stick, and a small
pocket-knife, supplied the place of all the costly furniture of a palace.
And I might, without inconvenience, have imitated Diogenes, by
throwing away my cup, although merely an ostrich-egg shell; but
he,-in return, would have abandoned his tub, as utterly unnecessary,
could he have beheld me as I lay on the open bank asleep, housed
only by the starry sky.
Our Bushmen friends, wrapped in their karosses, lay down also,
within a few yards of us, and took their re s t; a proof of the really
friendly terms we were upon. For it was not possible to have given
a stronger assurance of our confidence in each other’s good intentions,
than that of lying thus exposed and unprotected, in each
other’s power, perfectly unsuspicious of treachery, and fearless of
harm. I know not whether this degree of confidence ought to be
considered as prudent in a solitary European, travelling over the
wilds of Africa; nor would I recommend it to be adopted by others,
without the most careful circumspection: but I am certain that, m
several instances, 1 am indebted to it for my safety | in many, for a
kind treatment; and, in general, for a more friendly reception than,
it seems, has hitherto been experienced by European travellers.
3rd. The two boys amused themselves in watching for fish, standing
at the water’s edge as motionless as herons. After patiently waiting
more than half an hour, one of the fishes came within their reach, and
with unerring aim, was instantly pierced through with their hassagay.
This is the fish which has been already mentioned by the name of
Platte-kop (Flat-head) a species of Silurus* It was nearly three feet
long, entirely of a lead-color; but whitish underneath. The head was
very broad and flat; the eyes pale-yellow and extremely small; and
the mouth was bearded with several very long strings. The skin was
smooth, and, like that of an eel, without scales. The flesh was white,
and in taste very much resembled the conger-eel, being rich and nutritious.
It is a remarkable circumstance, and one which is confirmed
by the general observation of the colonists, that it is only those rivers
which run to the western coast, (that is to say, to the northward ofthe
Cape of Good Hope,) in which this fish is found; whilst, on the contrary,
eels have never been seen in any but those which fall into the
ocean eastward of that cape. Of this Silurus I completed two coloured
drawings on the spot; of one of which, an engraving is given at the
end of the chapter. •
I also finished a drawing of a whole tree of the Red-leaf; its
growth and appearance being remarkable, and exhibiting a character
very different from that of the other trees of the country. In selecting
a position for making this drawing, I was unable to find a single
yard of ground that did not swarm with large black ants. It was,
therefore, impossible to sit down, and nearly so, to stand; for these
troublesome insects, ever on the search for something to eat, soon
found their way over my shoe, and seemed uncommonly delighted
at feasting on a white-man’s leg, a treat most likely, till now, quite
unknown to the little tribe, and, in spite of all my endeavours, they
were determined not to let go their prize. Their bite, though not
leaving behind it any inflammation, was yet exceedingly sharp at the
moment, and kept me in continual motion to brush them off. Near
* Silttrus (Hcterobranchus) Gariepinus B.—Vide iconem capitulo XVII. adjectnm.
Longitudo, pollices (Angl.) SS'J. Inter oculos et pinnas pectorales, maxima est latitudo;
poll. 5¿. Cirri 8, quorum Iongissimus, (poll. 7.) in ángulo oris situs. Os edentule.
Caput, antice transverum, planum, plagioplateum. Corporis pars posterior valdé
cathetoplatea. Appendix branchiarum ruberrima arboriibrmis. Pinnae omnes inermes:
D.69 : A. 53 : C. 18 : P. 10: V. 6 : et Br. 5 .— Reliqua sunt in icone videnda.