| constantly so dry that every thing is parched up, excepting the
e shrubs and trees. I find, unless I should decide on proceeding
I with pack-oxen only, that it is best to take both my waggons on
‘ with me. I shall avoid saying much respecting my intended plans,
‘ as experience teaches me that the execution of them depends
‘ entirely on. the unforeseen events which each ensuing day may
‘ bring with it. What I propose to myself' to perform may be very
‘ different from that which circumstances may ultimately lead me
• to : yet thus much I feel certain of, that should Providence allow
‘ me to return safe, my journey will be productive of great increase
‘ of knowledge to myself, and of the utmost gratification in furnish-
‘ ing my mind with matter for contemplation for the future part of my
‘ life. As to its being of any benefit to society in general, I at pre-
1 sent give up that idea ; but should be happy indeed, should circum-
1 stances put it in the power of my individual labors, to add any
§ thing to the present stock of true knowledge ; but 1 fear I shall not
‘ be able to penetrate far enough to ascertain those facts which I had
‘ supposed to exist. The chief obstacle, as I have already said, is
i the want of proper men, and the manifest reluctance of those I
I have with me, to trust themselves to unknown nations. I shall,
* however, journey onwards, till I shall have ascertained thè truth of
‘ those difficulties I am told of, and which I suspect to be greatly
‘ exaggerated. My course, after leaving Letaako, will be northerly,
‘ or north-westerly, as circumstances shall render most advisable.
‘ Respecting the country to the N. E., I have obtained the same
I encouraging account which the late travellers’ received ; but
‘ respecting that to the N. and N. W., there seems to hang an
à obscurity over it, which I wish to clear away : no one can .give me
‘ the least information in that quarter. Yet I shall always persist
‘ in endeavouring to accomplish so much of my original plan, that
‘ at a future jjeriod, 1, or some other person, may not find it a diffi-
‘ cult undertaking to set out from St. Paul de Loando and join my
t present route : by which a very large portion of the unknown part
‘ of Southern Africa would be explored. And should I, after my
| return to England, feel a desire to attempt this second journey, the
‘ experience I am now acquiring, would prove t'o be of the greatest
‘ advantage.’
To Mr. Polemann, I wrote in these words: ‘ My dear Friend, I
‘ take the opportunity of some people going to the Roggeveld, on
‘ horseback, to remain there till the first of May, to let you know
‘ how it fares with me. I have enjoyed very good health ever since
‘ leaving Gape Town : and have felt no other fatigue than that which
‘ arises from my anxiety not to let any thing escape my notice; but
I still I fear I shall pass by many things unobserved; yet have no
‘ doubt that I shall bring home a large collection. I am situated
1 very unpleasantly, owing to want of men ; having only two besides
‘ the man from Groene Kloof, whom you sent to me at Tulbagh;
‘ who having met with an unfortunate accident, cannot now be of
‘ so much service to me as heretofore. The people ofKlaarwater are,
* I believe, the laziest men in the world; yet I am reduced to the
< necessity of soliciting some of them to. accompany me ; which; I
‘ fear, I shall find great difficulty in doing, as the two men taken from
‘ here by the late travellers, are not returned, and it is suspected'
‘ that I am not coming back this way again. Yet, if I cannot get
‘ men at any other rate, I must promise them that they may come
‘ back, as I have some slight hopes that I may supply their place by
‘ Bichuanas. If this last resource should fail, then must I make up
‘ my mind to see Cape Town again; and, indeed, think that the
‘ pleasure of again meeting my Cape friends, will greatly compensate
‘ for my disappointment. I mean first to visit Letaako, and then to
‘ turn off to the N. or N. W., to a country of which no one here
‘ knows even the name or the nature. The climate is here very hot
| and dry; the thermometer being, in the coolest place, at an average,
‘ 95°. The oxen, which were purchased of Van der Merwe, have
| proved to be very good ; though I have lost two of the best. The
‘ remainder are now sufficiently recovered to proceed on the journey,
‘ as soon as Gerrit is well enough; which I think will be in a fort-
‘ night. I am quite tired of being here so long, and am anxious to
‘ behold new scenes. I am going to apply myself to hard study, to
‘ obtain a knowledge of the Sichuana language, which, I have reason
3 u