facts with which I was better acquainted, that I had no hesitation in
classing it as one of the numerous tales contrived for the purpose of
alarming my meu; nor was I quite without suspicion of its having
been invented by Gert himself, with a view of inducing me to give
up the idea of penetrating so far into- the interior of these countries,
as I had designed.
Had I been earlier aware of this Hottentot’s weakness and
timidity, I should certainly have left him at the missionary settlement,
and should have spared myself much vexation and trouble on
his account; but as I did not, at this time, suspect him of a total
deficiency of courage, I continued long afterwards to treat him with
partiality and to rely on his fidelity. He communicated also a secret
of his own, and which probably had no little influence over his conduct
towards m e; after the termination of the journey, he intended
returning to Klaarwater to marry the widow of one of the two Hottentots
who unfortunately joined Dr. Cowan’s fatal expedition, and
who had agreed to 'become his wife; for,” said he “ the one I left
at home at Groene Kloof, is a bad one.”
‘¿‘¿nd. Early this morning we were roused by the very unexpected
sound of a waggon approaching, and which soon afterwards halted
and unyoked at a short distance from us. The party proved to be
Cupido Kok with four other Hottentots and six Koras, returning
from Litakun, where he had been to barter for ivory and oxen.
He had in his waggon about twenty Elephant’s tusks, which had
been obtained in exchange at the rate of a sheep for each tusk;
the Bachapins being very desirous of procuring cattle of that
kind, it having hitherto been little known to their nation, or, at
least, seldom reared by them. He was driving home a herd of above
forty oxen which had been purchased with beads and tobacco.
I was exceedingly glad at falling in with this man, as I now
expected to get back my great rifle. But it seemed that all my
dealings with the people of that village, were to produce nothing but
disagreeables and vexation ; for although I obtained my gun again, it
was rendered useless by the want of the bullet-mould, which, he
said, he had left at home at his place at Taaibosch Fountain, as he
had no occasion for it on the journey, having previously cast as much
ball as the quantity of gunpowder he took with him would require.
This quantity, I found, was no more than the pound which I had
then given him, and which was now very nearly expended; so that
he was, as he confessed to Gert, venturing his journey homewards
with scarcely any ammunition for his defence. He had, indeed,
another gun in his waggon, the bullet-mould of which he offered me
instead of my own ; but this could be of no service as it was much
too small. He was therefore told that, as the rifle was the most
important of all our guns, and its use absolutely indispensable for the
prosecution of my journey, I would wait at our present station till he
had returned home and despatched a man on horseback to me with
the mould-, that I would not proceed without it, and that as soon as
it was received I would return him his own gun, which I had brought
with me in expectation of meeting him at Litakun ; and that it was
entirely through his own neglect, or want of reflection, that he had
not brought it, knowing as he did, that my gun was useless without
it. He at first objected to the trouble of sending a horse and
man back so far; but it was represented to him that the distance
was barely fourteen hours at a usual and moderate pace, and might
be performed with ease, and without danger even for one man ;
and that it was but just that he should take this trouble, as he alone
had occasioned the necessity for it.
Although he was apparently little pleased with my proposal,
yet as he made no objection to it, I concluded that the matter was
thus settled ; and returned to my waggon.
I sent to him the buffalo-skin, to be given to his nephew Captain
Dam, as payment for an eland-skin which he had supplied for the use
of my waggons: and Speelman and Juli on their own account,
requested him to take home for their wives some dried meat; but,
not being in a very obliging humour, he gave them an immediate
refusal, though he might have granted their request, without the least
inconvenience to himself.
Apparently with a view of giving vent to his ill-temper, and to be
revenged for my insisting on having the mould, he took advantage of
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