perhaps, ever set foot on African soil, with whom I had shared hardships and privations of no trifling character, had left me to seek their fortunes in remote climes. On me alone, then, devolved the task of watching over and improving the united interest of myself and Hans. Another duty, not less urgent, claimed my attention-namely, that of solving the grand geographical problem-the discovery of a route from the west coast to the Lake Ngami.

On mentioning my trying position to some Cape friends, they coolly advised me to dispose of my goods and return to Europe. I turned in disgust from the proposal, which only served to urge me to renewed exertions. My spirits rose in proportion to the difficulties.

Immediately on the departure of Hans and John Allen, I hastened to attend to my own affairs. I was tolerably well supplied with everything but servants, and instruments for taking astronomical observations. After much search and many bargains, I succeeded in getting together a very fair set of the latter, consisting of a large, good-working sextant, a boxsextant for taking angular bearings, two artificial horizons, (one of coloured plate glass mounted in brass, with levelling screws, and another for mercury), an excellent azimuth-compass, one or two good pocket-compasses, three boiling-point thermometers for ascertaining heights of places above the level of the sea, two telescopes, one for common field-work, and the other large enough for occultations, a chronometer watch, and two ordinary watches. Mr. Maclear, the Royal Astronomer at the Cape, kindly assisted me in selecting most of the above instruments. He, moreover, took a great deal of pains in adjusting them, and shewing me their use, though, I fear, I almost wore out his patience, for I was excessively stupid in this respect. But I trust the result has proved that his labour was not altogether thrown away.

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Shortly after our arrival at the Cape, I had been fortunate enough in securing the services of an old acquaintance, Timbo, 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 is 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 re-join 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 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 waggon-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 waggondriver, known as 'old Piet,' was, however a most excellent and well-behaved man. He had been, it is true, in the habit

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of getting drunk, but, once out of the Cape, he proved himself a hard-working, honest and faithful fellow, and has never since left my service.

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 Cape-Town, where, during a second stay, I had enjoyed much kindness and hospitality.

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.

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-REACH REHOBOTH-TAN'S MOUNTAIN -COPPER ORE-JONATHAN AFRIKA—A LION SUPS ON A GOATA 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 Scheppmansdorf; 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 dwellinghouse and out-buildings.