i77s- r On the 2 ith the thermometer rofe to 100 degrees. We December. , j \ r r ' T z. U w now repaired to a fea-cow hole, (Zeeko-gat) near Vtjcb-ri~ 'vier, to look for the hippopotamus. On the 2 6th the wind blew agreeably cool, and the ther- mometer at noon was not above 79. This day we overtook feveral farmers from Agter Bruntjes-hoogte, who were •come into this neighbourhood for the purpofe of hunting. I could not help fmiling, though at the fame time I Was covered with confufion, at thefe good ruftics viewing us fo •narrowly as they did from head to foot; while, on the other hand, I could not hut allow their as well as our fur- prize, at this unexpected vilit to be extremely natural. Infadt, they found me with a beard which had not been touched * iince the end of the preceding month, without a itock, and ■with my waiftcoat open at the breaft, my hat flapped, my hair braided into a twift, my fide-curls hanging down ftrait and fluttering in the a ir ; a fine thin linen coat, with a white ground variegated with blood, dabs of gunpowder, and fpots o f dirt and greafe of all kinds; but at the fame •time.decorated with fine gilt buttons, a third part of which were fallen off, and a great many of them dangled about loofe and were ready to follow the others. As to the other part of my drefs, my breeches, for the fake o f coolnefs, were turned up at the knees, in the manner in which they are frequently worn by the boors of this country ; and after the fame guife, and for a fimilar reafon, my ftockings, which were woollen, were gartered below my knees, at the fame time that they hung down loofe about my ankles; while my feet were fet off with Hottentot ihoes, made to draw up up with firings, of the fame kind with thofe reprefented D(W ¿ in Plate I. Vol. I. Fig. 4. V-or»> Mr. I m m e lm a n , who, in fa£t, was a handfome young fellow, with large dark eye-brows and a. fine head of hair,- at this time wore a beard five weeks old, which was now beginning to curl in a very confpicuous manner. As to the reft of, his appearance, he figured on horfeback in a* long night-gown, with a white night-cap, large wide boots, and, if I remember right, was.juft at that time without ftockings, in order to keep his legs the cooler. It may be neceflary here, perhaps, to make fome exeufe both for our beards and our drefs. As to our beards, we had both of us' in a merry mood, formed a refolution not to- touch a hair of them either with razors or fciflbrs, till we ihould either get into company again with the Chriftian lafles, or ihould have an opportunity of differing a hippopotamus. Adde<¿ to this, we wiihed to try how a long beard would become our juvenile years. | It is a prefent made to us by nature, faid we to each other, let us keep it by way of experiment. Our beards, perhaps, prevent our catching cold, and getting defluxions and the tooth-ache in cold nights; at leaft it is probable, that in this climate they defend the face from the fcorching rays of the fun; and who can tell, what refpedt and consideration it may acquire us from the beardlefs tribes, we are likely, to meet with in the courfe of our expedition.” This refolution of ours, which we pertinacioufly adhered to, gave rife in the mean while to many ludicrous, conver- fations; but I muft confefs, that we felt ourfelves delivered from a very heavy burden, when we got rid of our beards. Again, as to our clothing, it was entirely adapted to the Y ol.’ IL T warmth.
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