270 THE BIRKENHEAD. who had safely returned from St. Helena, where he left Mr. Galton. He proved invaluable to me. To his charge my dogs and native servants were confided, and they throve wonderfully under his management. I had intended to send two or three Damaras with Hans to Australia; but one day, previous to his departure, they came to me in great tribulation, and said that they did not want to go any further, but wished to return with me to their own land. If such was really their intention, it became my duty to gratify them; but I could not help feeling a little vexed, for since no one but Timbo could speak their language, I strongly suspected that he had influenced their decision. With a view of ascertaining the fact, I called him, and told him my opinion; but he stoutly denied the charge, adding-"Suppose, master, me was to take a horse from the stable in the Kaap to Wynberg, or to any other strange place, and then leave him to himself, surely he would return whence he came; and so it was with the natives." I was struck with the sagacity of the remark, and said no more about the matter. Timbo had procured a passage from St. Helena in the Birkenhead man of war, and on the voyage he got acquainted with an English lad, George Bonfield, aged sixteen. A mutual attachment sprung up between the shrewd Ethiopian and the youthful Saxon; and, in a short time, the former was the means of indirectly saving the life of the latter. On the arrival of the vessel at the Cape, the boy requested permission to land, in order to enjoy the society of his swarthy friend. This was granted, on condition that he should rejoin the vessel at Simon's Bay. Whilst doubling the southern extremity of Africa, the unfortunate Birkenhead struck, and, as is well known, was totally lost, with almost all hands on board. Timbo took every care of the boy, whose life had thus been saved. He put him to school, and afterwards secured him a berth with a tradesman in Cape-Town. Finding that the youth was anxious to see something more of the world, and to add to his store of knowledge, I took him into my employ. He accompanied me to the Great Lake, and when, in the course of the journey, I became ill, and crippled by wounds inflicted by wild animals, his presence and tender care greatly relieved and soothed my sufferings. On Timbo's recommendation, and from possessing a smattering of Portuguese, I engaged a Mozambique liberated slave, of the name of Louis; but he turned out the filthiest, laziest, most sensual, and most useless man I ever came across. Just as I PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. 271 was about to engage him, he said-"Of course, master give me my washing and ironing." "My good fellow," I replied, "has Timbo not explained to you the sort of country we are going to? You must thank your stars if you get water enough to wash your face, much less your clothes. And, if you happen to get a sufficiency for the latter purpose, you will certainly have to cleanse your own garments. In the wilderness, according to an old saying, every man is his own washerwoman.'" A young Hottentot, whom I engaged as wagon-driver for the journey, ran into debt, and shuffled his cards so cleverly, that I did not become aware of the circumstance until the day fixed for our departure, when there was of course no time to look for another driver, and I had no alternative left but to pay his liabilities. The last of my servants, also a Hottentot and a wagon-driver, known as "old Piet," was, however, a most excellent and wellbehaved man. He had been, it is true, in the habit of getting drunk, but, once out of the Cape, he proved himself a hardworking, honest, and faithful fellow, and has never since left my service. 1 The above wood-cut is a portrait of a negro youth, born and bred at the Cape. He has been shopping, and is returning home with the various articles entrusted to his charge. 272 DEPARTURE FROM CAPE TOWN. Finding that a Mr. Reid, whose acquaintance I had made in Great Namaqua-land, and who had been very kind and attentive to me when I was laid up by fever, was about to undertake a trading excursion to Walfisch Bay, I gladly availed myself of the opportunity thus afforded, of dividing between us the expenses of a vessel; a considerable sum was accordingly saved to me. At last, after many difficulties and delays, we were ready; and on the 16th of January, having embarked in the schooner Flying Fish, we unfurled our sails and bade farewell to CapeTown, where, during a second stay, I had enjoyed much kindness and hospitality. CHAPTER XXVIII. ARRIVAL AT WALFISCH BAY—ATROCITIES OF THE NAMAQUAS—MR. HAHN— HIS PHILANTHROPY-AUTHOR DEPARTS FOR RICHTERFELDT-SHOOTS A LION LIONS UNUSUALLY NUMEROUS-PIET'S PERFORMANCES WITH LIONS -THE LION A CHURCH-GOER-BARMEN-EIKHAMS-KAMAPYU'S MAD DOINGS AND CONSEQUENCES THEREOF-KAMAPYU IS WOUNDED BY OTHER SHAFTS THAN CUPID'S-AUTHOR VISITS CORNELIUS, WHERE HE MEETS AMRAL AND A PARTY OF GRIQUA ELEPHANT HUNTERS-REACHES REHOBOTH-TANS MOUNTAIN-COPPER ORE-JONATHAN AFRIKA-A LION SUPS ON A GOAT-A LION BESIEGES THE CATTLE. WE had an excellent run to Walfisch Bay, and reached it on the 23rd of the month in which we left the Cape. In the afternoon, I landed the horses, but very nearly lost the best. The halter having slipped off his head, he was making straight for the sea, and was well nigh exhausted before we could again secure him. The same night, I rode over to Scheppmansdorff; but the darkness was so profound that I was unable to see the track or hold any course. It was by the merest accident that I stumbled upon the house, to the great surprise of my old friends, the Bam family, whom I found well, but not so comfortably lodged as when I saw them last-the Kuisip having swept away their dwelling-house and out-buildings. From the worthy missionary I learnt much both to please and grieve me. The Namaquas had, as usual, been pillaging the Damaras, and were dealing death and desolation around them. It was no longer considered safe even for white men to remain. Indeed, the Namaquas had already attacked Richterfeldt. Early one morning, a horde of these marauders suddenly appeared, 274 ATROCITIES OF THE NAMAQUAS. and carried off all the cattle belonging to the people of the station. Not satisfied with this, they fired several shots into the dwelling-house, though, fortunately, without effect. Mrs. Rath and children were laid up by "eye-sickness," and Mr. Schöneberg, who had arrived the day previously, and who was in a very weak state from the effects of a recent severe illness, was almost frightened out of his senses by the sudden and unexpected onset. On Mr. Rath walking up to the barbarians to remonstrate with them on their brutal conduct, they seized and flogged him severely. A Damara, who was at his side, they shot dead. In consequence of this attack, Messrs. Rath and Schöneberg were daily expected to leave their stations, and to remove to Mr. Bam's place. On the other hand, I heard that a party of Bechuanas had been visiting Jonker Afrikaner, and it was supposed they had crossed the Kalahari desert. This was gratifying intelligence; because, if these natives had been able to pass through such dreaded regions, I might also humbly hope to do the same. On my return to the Bay, I found almost all my goods, and those of my friend, Mr. Reid, safely landed; and, with the assistance of Mr. Bam's oxen, everything was quickly transferred to the station. This was scarcely effected, when the Rev. Messrs. Kleinschmidt and Hahn arrived from the Cape. The latter had been on his road to Europe to pay a visit to his family, and make some arrangements respecting the education of his children. But his heart bled for the wretched condition of this benighted land; and, at immense sacrifice, he returned with the view of endeavoring once more to bring about a reconciliation between the Namaquas and the Dama ras. Next to the love and worship which we owe to our Creator. must be ranked the love of our own species. This Divine doctrine recalls those beautiful lines by Leigh Hunt:— "ABOU BEN ADHEM (may his tribe increase!) 'What writest thou?'-the vision raised its head, And, with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered, 'The names of those who love the Lord.' |