CHAPTER XIV.
RECEPTION AT I.ITAKUN.
W h e n the waggons had nearly reached some of the first houses,
which lay irregularly scattered on the skirts of the town, and our
approach was discovered, many of the inhabitants flocked round us,
and the crowd increased at every step. All seemed highly pleased at
our arrival, and moved forward by the side of the waggons, with a
briskness and alacrity which seemed to show that they regarded
my-coming as a public holiday, or as a great event which rejoiced
them the more as their expectations of seeing me had so long been
disappointed.
As for myself, I scarcely once thought of the rest of my party,
and seemed to have entirely forgotten that I had either waggons or
attendants belonging to me ; so completely was my attention absorbed
by the interesting scene before me, and by the novelty of all which I
beheld. The good humour which beamed in the countenances of the
crowd, reflected a sunshine upon every object, and from the first
instant, banished every uneasy sensation which the uncertainty of our
reception might have created. With the recollection of the vexations
and disappointments which had so long attended my progress into
the Interior, I felt as though I had, by advancing thus far, gained a
triumph over the numerous difficulties which must always beset and
oppose every traveller who shall attempt to explore these regions,
alone and unsupported, cheered by no friend, upheld by no aid.
While surveying with rapidity the new character of this bustling
crowd of Africans, and admiring the social appearance and magnitude
of a town, so different in every respect from those of Europe, I caught
a spirit of enthusiasm which seemed like some fascinating power
emanating from the strange objects which every where surrounded
me, and excited feelings which rendered my first view of the town of
Litakun, a moment, which, in its peculiar gratification and delight,
was never surpassed by any other event of the journey. Accustomed,
as I had been, for so many months, to the sight of only the frail
moveable huts of Hottentots and Bushmen, I rejoiced at finding
myself at length arrived among a nation whose dwellings claimed, the
name of buildings. Although the weather was cold, yet the sun
shone bright arid shed animation upon the scene and enlivened the
appearance of these dwellings, as much as the arrival of the white
stranger, seemed to lend a pleasing active curiosity to their gazing
inhabitants.
Muchunka, who was in high spirits, led the way as our guide
through the labyrinth of houses. He had equipped himself with a gun
and cartridge-box on this occasion, that he might display before his
countrymen some marks of superiority ; and of which he was not a
little proud. My own men, of whom three were mounted on horses
and the rest on foot, kept closely together; while I myself sat in
front of the great waggon, by the side of Philip, and whom I was
glad to see managing his long whip without the least symptom of
being confused by the presence of so large a throng. My attention
was too much occupied another way, to allow me to observe whether
all of my party were equally at their ease; but I suspected that they