to one degree of latitude* and thirty miles travelled each day, I calculated
that we could arrive at Graaffreynet in eleven or twelve days,
provided every thing went on aright. Under a conscientious conviction
of this, I assured every one that we could reach the borders of the
Colony, meaning Plettenberg’s Betaken, in a week. Although, from
unexpected delays, and other unforeseen causes; the length of this
journey proved very different from my calculations ; yet I succeeded,
by these assurances, in gaining the confidence of Speelman and
Philip, who were, moreover, exceedingly pleased at the expectation
of re-visiting a place with which they were well acquainted; particularly
the former, who had made a journey from Cape Town to
Graaffreynet but twelve months before. Gert and Hannah were to
remain at Klaarwater, to take care of my waggons and oxen. The
remarkably pleasant weather which we had just at this time, had
certainly a favorable influence, by giving us the prospect of plenty of
water and pasture by the way.
7th. Philip and Gert were sent off to Groote-doom, to recruit
for men; or rather, it might be said, they went vested with full
powers to explain my plan, and treat in my name with the inhabitants
o f that place.
8th. On the next day these plenipotentiaries returned ; having
signed the preliminaries of a treaty with their Uncle Hans and
Cousin Hendrik.
In the meantime' I had engaged at Klaarwater several others •
and had nearly obtained the full complement. Those fears which
operated so strongly against a journey into the unknown parts of the
interior, were now not in the least excited by the proposal of a trip
to the Colony, as this seemed to accord exactly with their wishes.
9th. Hans Lucas and Hendrik Abrams came to make further
arrangements, and appeared not only willing to go, but were even
pleased at, and desirous of, the journey. The former agreed to
* See the note at page 90.
furnish three pack-oxen, and to supply me, for my own use, with a
quiet riding-ox and one that could be easily managed, as I was
completely a novice in the art of riding on ox-back. He was also to
bring with him a Bushman whom he had retained several years in
his service;, and who would be found very useful for driving the
loaded oxen. He was one of that class which they called Malclce Bosch-
jesman (Tame Bushman); by which denomination are distinguished
suehof that race as have either been brought up among the colonists,
or are living habitually on good terms with them. The people
of this settlement, therefore, apply the name to all those Bushmen
who are under similar circumstances, as respects themselves.
I was now reaping the advantage of the character which I had
gained among them *, of being able to find out the true bearing of
distant places ; for, although there was not an individual at Klaarwater
who was able even to attempt a guess at the direction of Graaffreynet,
or had been aware that it lay in the quarter which I pointed
out, yet my own men, and all those whom I hired on this occasion,
placed entire confidence in my guidance, and never once expressed
the least doubt of my being acquainted with the proper direction.
After church, when I paid my usual visit to the missionaries, my
patience was a little exercised in listening to the medley of contradictory
argument with which they endeavoured to deter me from the
attempt and convince me that, should I escape being murdered by
the Bushmen, I should still find myself unable to bear the hardships
and fatigue of such a mode of travelling, and should never succeed
in any part of my plan. One even thought I ought to be careful
how I enticed the men away, by representing the affair in a less it. ! /I
difficult and dangerous light than it really was, and intimated that,
when I had got myself and my people into danger, I might not feel
so courageous as I expected. And, that no stone might be left
unturned in search for some bugbear, he did not hesitate to give
the Klaarwater people the character of being a set of men on whose
* See pages 302 and 467.