some evil design against him ; but six Caffres happening most providentially
to come up just at that instant, frustrated their intentions,
and occasioned them to make off with all haste. On representing
his situation to the Caffres, they kindly took him under their protection,
turned back, and honorably conducted him safe to the
Gariep, where, having pointed out a fordable place, and given him
proper directions for passing it, they left him to find his way to the
Kloof settlement, where he arrived without accident, and remained a
day or two to rest.
In this hazardous attempt, there were so many chances against
his traversing that part of the country in safety, that we should have
doubted the truth of his story, had we not known that it was still
more improbable that he could have come from any other place than
the Roggeveld. The rate at which he travelled would seem incredible
; nor could it have been supposed possible in that hot weather,
to have walked two hundred and sixty five miles in seven following
days, or at the average of thirty eight miles each day, had I not already
known several proofs of the extraordinary travelling powers which the
Hottentots and Bushmen possess. It was the opinion of every one,
that he had met with unusual good fortune, in having escaped being
murdered by the way: but his not having about him either a gun,
or any thing worth taking, nor even a kaross, was a circumstance to
which, doubtlessly, his safety was principally to be attributed.
Not equally fortunate was a deserter from the Cape garrison.
This man having made his escape from the colony, had taken refuge
at Klaarwater; where an offer of pardon was made to him about a
year before my visit to this place, by the missionary on the part of
the governor, on the condition that he undertook to go in search of
Dr. Cowan and his party, and brought back some intelligence respecting
their fate. He, however, went no farther than the country
of the Briquas, or Bachapins, being afraid to venture amongst the nations
who live beyond them. At that town he obtained an account of
their having all been murdered by the second nation beyond Litaa-
koon : a story fabricated by the natives, without any foundation; and
which will be fully explained in another part of this journal. * A
short time after his return to Klaarwater, he set out alone, intending
to find his way back into the Colony; conceiving that by what he
had done he had earned his pardon: but this ill-fated man had
scarcely passed Modder-gat, when he was met by a party of Bushmen,
and barbarously murdered.
Speelman came from Groote-doorn, for a fresh supply of provisions,
tobacco, and brandy, and communicated the pleasing intelligence
that my oxen were fast recovering their strength ; but threw
in with it some alloy, by surmising that unless the rains fell before
long, they would soon begin to lose what they had gained; as the
herbage was now every where entirely parched up. The idle life
of a herdsman, together with plenty of milk, and occasionally some
boiled wheat, had, in some measure, fattened him also. He was in
high spirits, and by his account appeared to be living happily
enough, amongst his new-formed acquaintances; one of whom,
named Hendrick Abrams, he had engaged to go with us on our
journey into the Interior. As he called him his cousin, I for some
time supposed him to be really a relation, whom he had unexpectedly
discovered in this distant part of the country; but; with a Hottentot,
as with a Boor, every one towards whom they feel friendly disposed,
is either cousin, uncle, or nephew; according as it happen that the
age may be equal, or greater, or less.
He brought with him a curious proof of his ingenuity; a fiddle
of his own making. I could not be otherwise than exceedingly
amused, for the rudeness of its appearance was really laughable.
Yet it gave, every thing considered, an excellent tone, and proved,
during our travels, a most valuable article. This mirth-inspiring
utensil was a kind of oblong bowl, carved out of willow-wood, and
covered over with sheep-skin or parchment. A finger-board, with
screws, bridge, and tail-piece, together with a bow, were all formed in
imitation of a European violin, and nearly in the proper proportion.
* Under the date of the 3d of August 1812.
3 s 2