populous countries. Of the intermediate parts and their inhabitants,
beyond Litakun, nothing was known. All this determined me
to avoid the western coast, although that would have been the
shortest way, and to adopt a route which should conduct me through
the heart of the continent. Litakun, then, was one point to which I
resolved to direct my course ; and that I might see as much of the
Cape Colony as was conveniently possible, I proposed to make Plet-
tenberg’s Bay, Algoa Bay, and Graaff Reynet, in my road: having, at
the same time, in view, as a desirable object, the investigation of that
unexplored and unknown tract of country, lying between GraaiF
Reynet and Litakun; for, according to the supposed position of these
places, Klaarwater would not lie in that track.
I continued thus gleaning information from every quarter within
my reach, and familiarising myself with the subject; nor did I, on
this account, much regret being obliged to delay the commencement
of the journey. The extent of my plan was known to but few of my
friends: several reasons induced me to keep it secret; of which, one
was the difficulty, and, perhaps, impossibility, which would be found
in persuading Hottentots to enter into my service, declaredly for the
purpose of going farther into the interior than had been before,
attempted.
This reluctance to venture far beyond the boundaries of the
colony, was occasioned chiefly by the total failure of an expedition
sent out by the Governor, under Hr. Carman and Captain Donovan,
two gentlemen belonging to the Cape garrison. Their party consisted
of a Dutch colonist, named Jacob Krieger; two Englishmen,
private soldiers in the garrison; and about fifteen Hottentots, with
four waggons, &c. Their instructions were, to make the best of their
way to the Portuguese settlement of Mozambique, on the eastern
coast. They departed from Cape Town in September, 1808, and on
the 24th of the following December, had reached the river Molappo;
since which time, no tidings whatever had been heard of them, and
it was generally believed that all must have perished. *
* Anti, even at this-time, (1821,) nothing certain is known respecting the fate of any
one of the party.
This melancholy result of an expedition, the success of which
had been regarded as certain, cast a damp on every similar undertaking
; and such of my friends as knew my intentions, derived from
it an argument to dissuade me from my plan; and they also represented
my bodily strength and constitution as unequal to the task.
But a project which had been formed so many years, was not easily
to be put jiside: these well-meant representations made no impression,
and I continued unmoved in my resolution.
31si. This day was dedicated to a ramble over the Sand Flats,
from Salt River to Munnich’s Bridge. Salt River, or Zont Rivier, lies
eastward from the town; and by this name is commonly understood
a small collection of houses, not far from the sea-shore, and situated
on the lower part of the Liesbeck’s river, by which place, passes the
great road into the interior of the colony, branching afterwards
northward and eastward. The water here being salt, has given rise
to the name, although a river running by Paarden (or Horse) Island,
is properly the Zout Rivier. In this part of the Flats grow various
saline plants. *
In the ponds hereabouts, and in many other parts of the colony,
there grows a plant called Water-uyentjes f , the root of which, when
roasted, is much eaten by the slaves and Hottentots. The heads of
* Such as, —
Chenolea diffusa. Th.
Frankenia Nothria
' Falckia repens
Statice scabra
Scirpus maritimus
Together with which, near Salt River, may 1
Cyperus textilis
Campanula procumbens
Cottila coronopifolia
Cotula integrifolia. B. Cat. Geog. 515.
— affinis C. coronopifolia sed diifert
foliis lanceolatis integris.
Clvffortia sarmcntosa
Poly gala (Muraltia) linophylla. B.
Cat. Geog. 510.
\ Aponogeton distachyum.
H
Potamogetón márinwn
Scirpus Holoschoenus
Triglochin maritimum, and
Salicornia.
e found, —:
Trifolium repens
Cyperus corymbosus
Cyperus lanceus
Juncus punctorius
Cyperus fascicularis.
Cliffortia strobilina
Typha latifolia
Scirpus lacustris. Th.
Anthericum (Phalangitm)Jimbriatum
2