from the tops of the hills, and had clearly ascertained who we were,
they would come to us as gladly as before ; and on this subject I was
not under the least uneasiness, as my little Bushman protege was
now with me, and would at any time give notice to his countrymen
that we were friends. Had they not at first, mistaken us for boors,
we should have been visited by them, the moment we entered their
country.
My Graaffreynet people were greatly encouraged when I
announced to them the name I had given to this spring, and the
certainty of our having advanced half way to Klaarwater; as all,
excepting Van Roye and Cornelis, were obliged to travel on foot a
great part of the way, and it was only now and then, that they could
be relieved by changing places with the ox-riders. The woman with
her child, however, was always allowed to ride, either on my horse,
or on one of the oxen; and occasionally I dismounted, and gave up
my seat to one or other of the people who appeared most fatigued.
It will be seen, therefore, on looking over the Itinerary, that we in
general made, what under such circumstances must be considered,
long days-marches. We had this day advanced more than twenty-
five miles, notwithstanding all impediments and many stoppages
occasioned by our baggage getting frequently out of order.
8th. The confidence which my Klaarwater party had gained by
their former friendly reception among the Bushmen, was very remarkable.
As an instance of this, Speelman, accompanied only by
Platje, set out early this morning, that they might reach Kraaikop's
kraal before the rest, and give notice of our approach.
After a march of above nineteen miles, we arrived at the kraal, where
its inhabitants rejoiced to see us again, and greeted us as old friends.
The father of the Bushboy soon made his appearance and seemed most
happy at finding his son safely returned. What account the boy
gave of his adventures, I could not possibly learn; but he was grown
so much fatter since he first joined our party, that it was not necessary
for him to tell his countrymen that he had been well treated.
He was of very sedate and modest manners, and seldom indulged in
open mirth and laughter; probably because he had little opportunity
of conversing freely in his own language : but, after the anxiety I had
suffered on his account, it afforded me the greatest gratification to
observe the brightness of his countenance, at his return home,
and his smiling happy looks. When I reflected on the misunderstanding
and possible consequences which might have ensued from
our not bringing him back with us, I regarded it as providential
good-fortune, that he had been intercepted in his flight, by an honest
boor, and by his means placed again in our hands.
As the people of the kraal informed us that the spring, which
.supplied them with water, was at a considerable distance farther, I
judged it most convenient to proceed thither. The chief sent some
of his men to guide u s; for without that assistance we should certainly
not have found it that night, as it lay about two miles and a
quarter northward in the open plain. The reasons which they gave,
for pitching their huts so far from any water, were, I think, such as
could be imagined only by a nation like the Bushmen; — the commandoes
of boors in search of stolen cattle, would not so easily find
them out in their present situation; while, by being at a distance
from the spring, they not only escaped the annoyance of lions and
beasts of prey, but they left the water open for the use of other
animals, so that they often had an opportunity of shooting game,
by lying there in ambush.
It was quite dark when we arrived at the spring. As the
Hottentots were much fatigued, and desirous of retiring early to rest,
I was not sorry that the natives did not follow us to our halting-
place. Their visit was reserved till the morning, which was the time
I had appointed for making the distribution of tobacco.
9th. My new stock enabled me to give more liberally than I had
done on my former visit, and the whole kraal were rendered as happy
as before.
When I mentioned to them, that the boors laid heavy complaints
against their nation for coming into the colony and committing
so many robberies, they cunningly replied, that they knew
other kraals did so, but as for them, they never stole cattle from any
body, but were content to live always on game and wild roots. I