unknown to them both; but report having informed them of the
circumstance of an Englishman having entered the colony in an
unusual manner, they judged it not impossible that it might be either
Dr. Cowan or Captain Donovan ; and under this persuasion they had
brought with them an army list, that I might be gratified with a
sight, as they supposed, of my own promotion. They sat down
by my bed, and expressed themselves exceedingly shocked at the
fatigue which they concluded I must have suffered, and at the
wretched lodging in which I lay. I felt so much pleasure in thus
unexpectedly meeting with a person with whom I could speak my
own language, that as long as they remained, I never once thought
of my fever. I asked innumerable questions, and inquired for news
of every description. • ;
They afforded me some amusement by relating that, on my
account the whole village of Graaffreynet had been for several days
in a state of alarm. The current report was, that three hundred of
the Klaarwater Hottentots, under the command of a white-man,
were marching to attack the colony, taking advantage of the favorable
moment when so many boors were absent from their homes and
detained on the commando in the Zuureveld. So greatly had the
inhabitants magnified my little party, and so strongly was the report
believed, that not only constant guard had been kept; but, on account
of my near approach and hourly-expected attack, a number
of persons remained under arms, and the guard and night-watch had
last night actually been doubled. When I explained the circumstances
of my journey and the object of my visit to Graaffreynet,
Dr. Menzies in a most friendly manner, offered me accommodation
in his quarters during my stay.
They had not long been gone, and I had just wrapped myself
up again, when Philip came to announce the arrival of two other
visitors. They were the acting landdrost his brother, who,
having at last correctly ascertained who I was, had brought the clergyman’s
carriage, the only one in the village, to convey me to town.
They expressed themselves, as my preceding visitors had done,
shocked at seeing me ill, and at the miserable abode in which I
was lodged; but I replied, that had so good a shelter presented
itself the night before, I should not at this time have been so .unwell.
They pressed me to quit the place, and were desirous of. taking
me to the village, where I should find every necessary refreshment
and attention. I resisted all their kind solicitations, as I felt too
indisposed to be able to move; but promised, if the fever left me.
in the night, that I would be at Graaffreynet, on the following day.
With this they took leave : and I once more covered myself up with
my blankets.
Towards evening, the fever and hoarseness increased, and with
the addition of a violent head ache, prevented all sleep. I endeavoured
in various ways to excite perspiration; but without success.
25th. In the morning, however, my remedies had their full
effect, and greatly relieved my. pain. I have described my illness
more particularly than I should otherwise have done, because it was,
as I afterwards learnt, a species of ‘ influenza' which had pervaded the
whole Colony. Few. escaped its attack; and I was told that in Cape
Town alone,, six thousand persons had been seized with it ; although
comparatively few had died. A similar complaint was not known to
have ever visited the settlement before. This epidemic, after passing
over the whole Colony, for I never could hear of any symptoms
beyond the boundary, was now on the decline, or supposed to have
expended itself; but the air was not yet cleared from its pestilential
quality, and we, unfortunately, arrived just in time to prove, that
it had ceased, only because it found no more subjects to act upon.
I was still in bed when the landdrost returned: he was accompanied
by Mr. Kicherer, the clergyman of Graaffreynet, who having
heard that I had letters for him from the missionaries at Klaarwater,
came for the purpose of inviting me to take up my abode at
his house during my stay. As soon as I was dressed, I left the
miserable, but most serviceable, hut; and was persuaded in a very
friendly manner, to accept his invitation.
After leaving directions with my people to follow in the afternoon,
I entered the carriage and we drove from a spot which, for
some moments during my illness, I thought it possible I might never
quit again.
VOL. II. T