surprised at beholding all the Satellites, as clearly as they would have
appeared in England through an instrument of many times greater
optical power; although this one was not more than twenty inches in
length, and of the common refracting sort. So unexpected a circumstance
afforded me much pleasure, because it raised a hope that I
might be enabled to observe an eclipse of one of these moons, for the
accurate-determination of my longitude, and accordingly 1 prepared for
watching the eclipse of the first satellite, which was calculated to happen
this night. For some time I had the fullest expectation of success,
but when the satellite approached near to the body of the planet,
it gradually lost itself in the confused rays of light emitted from its
primary, so it appeared through my telescope, and became invisible
several minutes before the eclipse would have taken place.
This disappointment, there was now no means of remedying;
and I felt how much reason there was for regretting that, in the
absence of an astronomical telescope, it had not occurred to me as
advisable to take a common one of the strongest power that could be
purchased in Cape Town ; but I was not then aware of the extraordinary
clearness of the atmosphere in the interior regions of this
country, so favourable to celestial observations. This, and manv other
circumstances propitious to the practical astronomer, render peculiarly
suitable to his residence, a country least of all likely ever to possess
such an inhabitant; while, on the other hand, strangely enough,
this noble science is pursued with the greatest earnestness in countries
where the atmosphere is perpetually thwarting and disappointing his
patient watchings.
28th. As it was my intention to visit the Bachapins after I had
taken my final departure from Klaarwater, it would be absolutely
necessary to have with me some person capable of acting as
interpreter to that nation. Although there were many Hottentots at
this place well enough qualified for that duty, I found it not possible
to persuade such to accompany m e ; and whatever difficulties at
Klaarwater may have opposed my endeavours to hire men for the
further prosecution of my journey, I owe it in justice to Mr. Jansz,
to say, that it was entirely by his friendly assistance that I succeeded
in engaging a Briqua interpreter to enter my service. During our
late excursion to the rivers, he had mentioned to me, and recommended
for that purpose, a certain Half-Briqua by the name of Kees,
who, being bom at Litakun (Litaakoon,) a Bachapin on the father’s,
and a Kora on the mother’s, side, was equally well acquainted with
both languages; and, by having long resided at Klaarwater,- and
even visited Cape Town, had acquired a tolerable knowledge of
Dutch.
Mr. Jansz having sent a message to one of the out-stations under
the Langberg, where Kees was living, to desire him to come to Klaarwater,
he arrived this morning at the village, and came to us at
Mr. Jansz’s hut, where, after much preliminary and explanatory conversation
with him, it was at last settled that he should go no farther
than Litakoon, there to leave me, and be at liberty to return home.
His real name was Muchunka, which in- the Sichuana language
signifies poor. His mother was living at the Kora village of the
Hart; but both his brothers had died a few years before of the
small-pox, by which disease he also lost his eldest child. His wife
was a Hottentot woman. His property.consisted in one cow, which
being the first he ever possessed, he talked of with no small pleasure,
as a proof of his riches and consequence ; for it seems that his name
had originally been justly bestowed upon him. He was living in
society with a Hottentot named Willem Casper, under whose protection
it was planned that he was to leave his wife and child, and
his cow.
He frequently expressed fears that I meant to take him farther
than Litakoon, and these fears occasioned him for some time to
hesitate whether to go or not. But after repeating the strongest
assurances that he should be quite at liberty to leave me at that town,
I at length effaced those impressions, which had evidently been made
on his mind by the representations of the Klaarwater Hottentots;
with respect to the dangerous nature of the expedition he was about
to join.
All these apprehensions being quieted, he took up his abode at
my waggons, and seemed as much pleased in his new service, as I