an oblique direction; so that the point where they landed made an
angle of about fifty degrees with the point directly opposite to that
from which they set out.
Two of my own men who went over with the raft, to the other
bank, were left there to guard the goods; and when the others returned,
a glass of brandy to each was found very necessary for
reviving their courage for another trip. But they had meditated a
scheme for obtaining payment for their services on their own terms,
and this they deemed the proper moment for putting it in execution,
when one half of our goods and two of my best swimmers were on
one side of the river, and the rest on the other; for they perceived
that the raft required a greater number of hands to conduct it, than
I had with me. I had intended to pay them in tobacco and some
other useful articles; but, it seems, they had resolved on having
gunpowder, which they knew to be a commodity I was not willing
to spare, as they found from my own Hottentots that I had brought
with me no more than it was judged we should require for our
' present journey.
They therefore made their demand, and considering the circumstances
in which I stood, I at last consented to pay them what they
asked, and even more, at my return, when I could better give up my
ammunition, without risking the lives of my party by rendering ourselves
defenceless. But as they were too cunning not to know how
far 1 was in their power, they resolved to be paid on the spot, and
therefore, without saying any thing further, walked away, as if to return
to their kraal. My own men, though they felt as much as myself,
how little we could spare that which was so essentially necessary,
both for our safety and for procuring food, begged me at all events
to avree to their terms; especially as the late hour of the day
admitted of no delay. They immediately ran to inform them of my
consenting to their terms ; and soon brought them back. They then
resumed the work, and plunged into the stream with another
raft-load.
In the meantime I concerted the arrangements for Gert’s return
with my waggon to Klaarwater, and left with him a goat and some
goods with which he might purchase provisions during our absence.
I gave him instructions to meet me on our return, at the river with
the waggon, should he be able in time to get intelligence of our
being on the road. He then, with the assistance of Old Daniel’s
son and Muchunka, began to put the oxen to the yoke, and, as soon
as he perceived that I was safely landed on the other side, set out on
his journey home.
To save the swimmers the fatigue of bringing over the raft when
they returned, we were obliged for each load to construct a new one ;
and as soon as the third raft was put together, I seated myself upon
it, with four of my dogs, and launched into the stream. I was
attended by twelve swimmers, including all the remainder of my
men, excepting Ruiter and Nieuwveld, who remained behind to bring
over the horse, and the oxen and sheep.
We reached the southern bank just at sunset, and as soon as Jan
Bloem and his people had received the gunpowder, they returned to
the other side on ‘ wooden horses.’* As they had exerted themselves
to their utmost in transporting our baggage over the river, and must
have been excessively fatigued before they reached home, I freely
forgave them the unfair stratagem by which they had outwitted m e;
and allowed them to plead their own necessities in excuse. We
parted good friends, and they promised to give their assistance in
swimming the cattle through in the morning; as it was become too
late to attempt it this evening.
At the place where we landed, a high precipitous bank confined
us close to the water’s edge, where it would have been highly imprudent
to have remained till morning, exposed to the risk of being
swept away, should the river suddenly swell. It grew dark before we
had removed the goods to the higher ground ; and in this operation fate
seemed to declare that no luxuries were to be allowed me on this
journey; for the only article I had provided, which could be considered
so, excepting tea and a bag of biscuits, was a stone bottle,