lessly be better satisfied by a feeling of confidence that he is receiving
his information in the traveller's own words. Neither have the drawings
been touched by any other hand : from these the plates have been
immediately coloured, and may be considered as expressing with fidelity
the tints, as well as the outlines, of African scenery. In order to
ensure o-reater correctness in the vignettes, the author has made all
these drawings upon the blocks themselves ; so that the impressions
are the fac-similes of every line of the pencil, a style of outline having
been adopted, as being best suited to engravings on wood. Those
who can appreciate the art, will not fail to admire the care and
abilities of the engraver. Of the map, little need be said in this place,
as a sufficient explanation will be found at the end of the Itinerary.
The General Index, together with a Zoological and Botanical Index,
will be given with the second volume.
In the Dutch names, and in words belonging to the languages
of the Hottentotsa nd other native tribes, the accented syllable has
been generally marked by an acute accent, and the English translation
of them added in parentheses. In the body of the work, words
have frequently been printed in Italic characters, with the view of
pointing out the subject of the paragraph, and of supplying the
place of marginal notes. The General Index will answer the purpose
of a glossary for all the foreign words found in this volume, by
referring to the given page for the interpretation. The orthography
of these words has not been neglected ; and where it has been found
uncertain or ill-established, the different modes in use in the colony,
have been occasionally employed. With respect to those languages
which have hitherto been merely oral, a system of orthography,
suited to the genius or natural sounds of them, has been adopted,
and will be explained hereafter. Where any of these have already
been received into the Dutch or English languages, the spelling
proper to these has frequently been employed; and precepts for
their pronunciation given in various parts of this volume.
In the narrative, the strict form, of ajournai has been adhered
to, as being that which best enables the reader and the author to
travel, as it were, the journey over again, and view, in their proper
light, the facts in connection, and the impressions made by each
event in succession. The object of this journal being to give a
natural and faithful picture of passing scenes and transactions, many
circumstances of less importance have been allowed their place in it ;
just as, in a landscape or historical painting, even of the sublimest
conception, the weeds of the foreground, or the stones of the pavement,
however trifling in themselves, must be represented, in order
to complete the whole, and convey the just resemblance of nature.
In these pages modesty may read without fearing to meet with
descriptions and allusions which might raise a blush upon her cheek.
This is the more necessary to be stated in a preface, as books of
travels, though professedly lying open to every class of readers,
sometimes contain matter offensive to decency, and which renders
them unfit for general perusal. Such indelicacies will never be found
in these volumes.
The author, during this expedition, which lasted four years,
had no companion or assistant, nor other attendants than a few
Hottentots; the number of whom never exceeded ten. Of the party
which set out from Cape Town, he was the only one who returned to
that place ; the rest having quitted him, and been several times replaced
by others during the journey. In a course of four thousand
five hundred miles, exclusive of numerous smaller excursions, regions
never before trodden by European foot, were explored and examined.
Besides that general information respecting these countries and their
inhabitants which it was his principal object to obtain, and which
are communicated by the following narrative, considerable collections
in Natural History were made, i and a multitude of objects hitherto
unknown to science brought to England. Of these a few are
occasionally mentioned, and distinguished, either by a reference
to the ‘ Geographical Catalogue,’ or by the letter B; and, not