All were now wrapped up in every piece of clothing they possessed
; and Buiter had so tied himself up in skins of various sorts and
colors, sheep-skins, leopard-skins, and goat-skins, that he looked
more like an automaton pile of furs, than a man. The ram and
mist became colder as we advanced ; or rather, we felt it more keenly
in proportion as we lost the warmth which we had acquired by the fireside.
The mist penetrated, where the rain could not; and every thing
was either wet, or damp. The cold grew more piercing, and my
people, more silent and dejected. I endeavoured to keep up their
spirits, by assuring them that as soon as we should descend the mountain,
we should find fair and warm weather: for we were then among
the clouds ; or rather, the clouds had sunk upon us. Yet, though
much chilled and benumbed, I did not myself suffer so much as
my Klaarwater Hottentots: they had long been accustomed only to
the warm climate of the Transgariepine; and three of them were,
besides, advanced in years, and one of these much enfeebled by age.
Speelman and Philip, who, like myself, had been somewhat hardened
by constant exposure to every kind of weather, and being, excepting
myself, the youngest of the party, were the least of all affected by
the cold. The sheep, of which we had only two remaining, and the
dogs, began to droop. Still, the hope of soon descending to a lower
level, gave us courage to go forward.
In this state we had been travelling about two hours and a half,
when Philip, as I was riding in advance, hastily came on to tell me
that the people were unable to proceed any farther, and that they
were of opinion that the Bushboy was dying. When I returned,
they all declared that they could endure the cold no longer.
Old Cobus Berends’s countenance was so much changed, and in so
weak a voice he told me that the cold had seized his heart, that I
really believed, considering his age, that he was struck with death.
I had never before thought myself in so serious a situation : the poor
little Bushboy who, excepting his kaross, was nearly naked, had seated
himself down by the road-side. When I went to him, I found him
affected to so alarming a degree, that he had no power either to
move or to speak, and his face had assumed that peculiar yellowness
which, among blacks, is the visible symptom of, either approaching
dissolution, or the decay of energy in the vital functions.
The most distressing reflections crowded on my mind. It appeared
that the hand of death lay already upon him. What was I
to tell the father at my return ! That he had died of cold ? This
would not have been believed. I should have been accused of
being the cause of his death; or of having left him in captivity
under some of the boors. My return through the Bushmen’s
country would be impracticable. Kaabi, and the whole tribe, would
have considered me no longer as their friend; but as one who had
treacherously deceived them and betrayed the confidence of a father.
The whole plan of my travels was deranged. I could not rejoin my
waggons but by making a circuit by the Sack river again, and waiting
for some favorable opportunity of crossing the Cisgariepine. These
sad forebodings rushed upon me, and entirely occupied my mind:
they made me forget my own persona] feelings, and that every one
of my men was now suffering from the severity of the weather.
We had therefore no alternative but to halt, although in an
exposed open place without a tree, or scarcely a bush, that could
afford us shelter. While those who were able to move, were unloading
the oxen, two others went in search of firewood. This spot
I have distinguished on the map, by the name of Cold Station; a.
name which, at this time, was more applicable to it, than to any
other station in the whole of my travels.
On account of the rain which continued falling, and the wetness
of our fuel, we found the greatest difficulty in kindling a fire; but
the people took care afterwards to supply it with large quantities of
wood, so that for some hours, it continued to burn in spite of the
mist and rain.
My first concern was to bring the Bushboy to life; for he had
no other appearance than that of a dying person. We placed him
by the fire, and I wrapped him up in one of my own blankets : but
he remained for half an hour completely speechless, and nearly
unable to move. He took no notice either of the fire, or of any
vol. n . s