THE ALARUM THE TURN-OUT. 39 



A few miles from our encampment resided a small kraal 

 of Hottentots, under the chief Frederick, who occasionally 

 brought us some milk and a few goats as a supply for the 

 larder, in exchange for which they received old soldiers' coats 

 (worth sixpence a piece), handkerchiefs, hats, tobacco, and a 

 variety of other trifling articles. But they infinitely pre- 

 ferred to beg, and were not the least ashamed to ask for even 

 the shirt on one's back. 



These men were excessively dirty in their habits. One 

 fine morning I observed an individual attentively examining 

 his caross, spread out before him in a sunny and sheltered 

 spot. On approaching him, in order to ascertain the cause 

 of his deep meditation, I found, to my astonishment and dis- 

 gust, that he was feasting on certain loathsome insects, that 

 can not with propriety be named to ears polite. This was 

 only one instance out of a hundred that might be named of 

 their filthy customs. 



As Frederick the chieftain, and a few of his half-starved 

 and Chinese-featured followers, were one day intently watch- 

 ing the process of our packing and unpacking divers trunks, 

 I placed alongside of him, as if by accident, a small box- 

 alarum, and then resumed my employment. On the first 

 shrill sound of the instrument, our friend leaped from his 

 seat like one suddenly demented ; and during the whole time 

 the jarring notes continued, he remained standing at a re- 

 spectful distance, trembling violently from head to foot. 



As no draft cattle could be obtained in the neighbor- 

 hood, nor, indeed, within a less distance than from one hund- 

 red and fifty to two hundred miles, Mr. Galton started on an 

 excursion into the interior with a view of obtaining a supply. 



His " turn-out" was most original, and would have formed 

 an excellent subject for a caricature. From both ends of the 

 cart with which he made the journey protruded a number of 

 common muskets and other articles intended for barter. The 

 mules harnessed to the vehicle kept up a most discordant con- 



