being in connexion equally with Klaarwater and with the Kamiesberg,
undertook to forward letters for the missionaries into the Colony;
and mine, being put into the same packet, reached ultimately their
destination.
Gert and Hannah, were both in excellent condition, having had
nothing to do but to sit by the waggons and fatten themselves. They
informed me that my waggons weref in all respects in the state as
when I left them. I was, however, much vexed at hearing that the
Hottentot named Cupido Kok had taken my great rifle-gun with him
to Litaakun ; the consequence of which was, that I lost the use of it
during my whole journey in the Interior. This man having greatly
admired the gun, I consented to lend it him till we returned from
Graaffreynet, as it was too heavy to be constantly carried in the hand;
and as he offered to supply its place with a lighter musket. I gave
him at the same time a pound of gunpowder, for which he engaged
to let Gert have either game or a sheep in our absence; but this, I
now was told, he had not done.
I made my complaint to the missionary, but soon dropped the
subject, as I found that the man had been baptized, and that it was
not pleasant to hear a bad character given to one of whom he held a
good opinion.
I had given Gert at my departure, a quantity of powder and ball,
with which he might obtain a supply of provisions during part of the
tim e; but the person to whom he entrusted it, returned him no more
than half a springbuck. Captain Kok, however, had fulfilled his
promise, and had allowed him to have as many goats, on my account,
as lie required.
Although two of my men were sent out hunting every day, and
their powder-horns were frequently replenished, we nevergotmore than
one springbuck during our stay at this village. It being known that I
had plenty of gunpowder, I was beset in various ways, and have little
doubt that in this particular, as well as in provisions, my own men
were often successfully solicited to betray their trust; as they never
reported having missed aim, so often as when we were in the neighbourhood
of the Klaarwater Hottentots. Keyser, whom I had sent
back from the Kloof to the river, for our hatchet, which he had carelessly
left behind, returned on the third day with an empty horn, and
with the story of his having lost all his powder and ball, and shot
nothing: this might be accounted for by his having passed through
The Kloof, and afterwards taken a circuit round by Grootedoom.
25th, My oxen, which had been left under the care of Abram
Abrams, were brought that I might see them, and as they appeared
to be in the best order, he received the promised reward; and, my
waggons being found all safe and in proper condition, Gert also
received a present as an encouragement of his fidelity.
21th. A small party of Hottentots returned home to day from a
journey to The Hart; where they had been to barter for cattle. They
had intended going to the Roode Kaffers (Red Caflres); but were
dissuaded by some Bachapins who accompanied them.
It seems to be a common maxim with all the nations of the
Interior, to oppose the wishes of any strangers desirous of visiting the
tribes beyond; always giving as a reason for doing so, that it is
dangerous to travel among people so cruel as they represent them
to b e; but their real motive is, the desire that no tribe but themselves
shall reap the advantages to be derived from trading with strangers.
June 3d. I had intended leaving Klaarwater in a week after my
arrival; judging that that time would be sufficient for putting every
thing in travelling order, and for making all those arrangements which
circumstances might require. But as I had from no one the least
assistance, and as my people were more inclined to loiter among
their old acquaintances and smoke their time away, than actively to
despatch their work, I found the period of our departure, greatly to
my annoyance, prolonged from day to day, by various difficulties and
obstructions arising in one quarter or another.
The two women Hannah and Truy, who, though brought on
the journey contrary to my first intention, were still the object of
care and concern: they were to be provided for, during our absence,
whether we returned to this place, or proceeded through the continent.
I, however, made their husbands manage the business as if
on their own account, well knowing that otherwise I should have
been assailed with the most unreasonable demands for gunpowder and
VOL. II* q . q