PREPARATION FOR JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR. 27 



of the beast. At length they began to despair, and it was a 

 question if they should not beat a retreat ; when an individ- 

 ual, more sagacious than the rest, stepped forward, and sug- 

 gested that a hole should be cut in the animal's hide^ by 

 which means easy access might be had to its vitals, and they 

 could then destroy it at their leisure ! The happy device 

 was loudly applauded ; and though, I believe, the tale ends 

 here, it may be fairly concluded that, after such an excel- 

 lent recommendation, success could not but crown their en- 

 deavors. 



We had now been at Cape-Town somewhat less than a 

 week, and had akeady added considerably to the stock of 

 articles of exchange, provisions, and other necessaries for our 

 journey. To convey the immense quantity of luggage, we 

 provided ourselves T\dth two gigantic wagons, each repre- 

 sented to hold three or four thousand pounds' weight, togeth- 

 er ■v\ath a sort of cart* for ourselves. 



JMr. Gait on bought also nine excellent mules, which could 

 be used either for draft or packing ; two riding horses ; and, 

 in addition to these, he secured about half a dozen dogs, 

 which, if the truth be told, were of a somewhat mongrel de- 

 scription. 



Mr. Galton also engaged the needful people to accompany 

 us on our travels, such as wagon-drivers, herdsmen, cooks, 

 &c., in all amounting to seven individuals. 



Our preparations being now complete, we were about to 

 set out on our journey, when, to our dismay, we received in- 

 formation which entirely overthrew our plans. It was re- 

 ported to us that the Boers on the Trans-Vaal Eiver (the very 

 line of country we purposed taking) had lately turned back 

 several traders and travelers who were on their way north- 



* The teim " cart," in this sense, implies a large, roomy, and cov- 

 ered vehicle, capable of holding four or six individuals, and from five 

 himdred to one thousand pounds of baggage. It is usually drawn by 

 six or eight mules or horses. 



