To my own discretion; and I have much pleasure in acknowledging
my obligations to the gentlemen composing that body for always acting
in an enlightened spirit, and with as much liberality
as their constitution would allow.
I have the like pleasure in confessing my thankfulness to the Astronomer Royal
at the Cape, Thomas Maclear, Esq., for enabling me to recall
the little astronomical knowledge which constant manual labor
and the engrossing nature of missionary duties had effaced from my memory,
and in adding much that I did not know before. The promise he made
on parting, that he would examine and correct all my observations,
had more effect in making me persevere in overcoming the difficulties
of an unassisted solitary observer than any thing else; so whatever credit
may be attached to the geographical positions laid down in my route
must be attributed to the voluntary aid of the excellent and laborious
astronomer of the Cape observatory.
Having given the reader as rapid a sketch as possible of events
which attracted notice between 1840 and 1852, I now proceed to narrate
the incidents of the last and longest journey of all, performed in 1852-6.
Chapter 5.
Start in June, 1852, on the last and longest Journey from Cape Town -
Companions - Wagon-traveling - Physical Divisions of Africa -
The Eastern, Central, and Western Zones - The Kalahari Desert -
Its Vegetation - Increasing Value of the Interior for Colonization -
Our Route - Dutch Boers - Their Habits - Sterile Appearance
of the District - Failure of Grass - Succeeded by other Plants -
Vines - Animals - The Boers as Farmers - Migration of Springbucks -
Wariness of Animals - The Orange River - Territory of
the Griquas and Bechuanas - The Griquas - The Chief Waterboer -
His wise and energetic Government - His Fidelity - Ill-considered Measures
of the Colonial Government in regard to Supplies of Gunpowder -
Success of the Missionaries among the Griquas and Bechuanas -
Manifest Improvement of the native Character - Dress of the Natives -
A full-dress Costume - A Native's Description of the Natives -
Articles of Commerce in the Country of the Bechuanas -
Their Unwillingness to learn, and Readiness to criticise.
Having sent my family home to England, I started in the beginning of June,
1852, on my last journey from Cape Town. This journey extended
from the southern extremity of the continent to St. Paul de Loando,
the capital of Angola, on the west coast, and thence across
South Central Africa in an oblique direction to Kilimane (Quilimane)
in Eastern Africa. I proceeded in the usual conveyance of the country,
the heavy, lumbering Cape wagon drawn by ten oxen, and was accompanied
by two Christian Bechuanas from Kuruman - than whom I never saw
better servants any where - by two Bakwain men, and two young girls,
who, having come as nurses with our children to the Cape,
were returning to their home at Kolobeng.
