CHAPTER XVIII.
RETURN FROM THE KY-GARIEF TO KLAARWATER.
N o v e m b e r 13 th . Our stay at the Yellow River having been continued
till the objects I had in view were attained, orders were yesterday
given to prepare for returning to Klaarwater ; and early this
morning, all the waggons were drawn out of the grove up to the top
of the bank, in order to be there loaded; as it would not have been
an easy task for the teams to drag them, and their loads, up the steep
sandy ascent which backed the woods. Very heavy rains had fallen
during the night, and most of the people were thoroughly drenched
with water. As there was every appearance of these showers being
followed by a continuance of wet weather, none of the Hottentots
objected to turn homewards ; especially as they had now procured a
large stock of dried game, and felt a desire to lie in their huts, and
eat it at their ease.
I had determined on returning by a new route, in order to explore
a different part of the country, and Mr. Jansz very readily
agreed to accompany me ; but the Klaarwater Hottentots showed no
such disposition to oblige. They talked of nothing but the difficulties
and dangers of the course I wished to take ; there was, they
said, no beaten road ; a certain steep, rocky ascent, would be found
impassable ; the hook-thorns would tear our clothes to pieces ; the
lions would eat up half our oxen ; and, finally, the Bushmen, who
in that direction were uncommonly savage, would murder us all.
In this manner they are too often in the habit of inventing any tales
that may answer their own views ; for, the truth was, they wished to
join the party of women whom we had left behind cutting rushes;
and, finding that Mr. Jansz and I were not to be dissuaded from our
purpose, they left us, and- drove off, taking the road to the rush-
cutters.W
ith some persuasion, Kok, the Klaarwater chief, was at last
induced to accompany us, as the missionary stated to him that the
principal object which he had in view, was to ascertain whether a
settlement might not be formed at a certain place known by the
name of Groote Fontein (Great Fountain) which lay in a north-westward
direction.
Our party, therefore, consisted of Dam’s two waggons, with his
wife and family, and another Hottentot waggon, besides the missionaries
and my own two ; mustering, with the women and children,
above twenty persons, with about half that number of dogs. These
faithful animals might now be looked at, without exciting that
painful compassion for their wretched lean bodies which one could
not help feeling when they first left Klaarwater. Their sleek and
improved appearance, their contented looks, declared them to have
been living in plenty and enjoyment, heightened at the same time
by perfect freedom.
I now took my final view of the Yellow River, and of the pleasant
woods which mark its winding course. I had derived so much
pleasure from its scenery, that I left it with regret; and while I still
surveyed its glittering surface, my imagination personified its ever-
flowing stream, and warmly apostrophized it with a last farewell.