246 ARRIVAL OF THE MISSIONARY VESSEL BAD NEWS. 



ing could have saved me from being blown out into the open 

 sea, and as there was a gale of wind at the time, there can 

 be no doubt as to the result. 



On the 31st of December, being then at Scheppmansdorf, 

 I received intelligence that the long-expected missionary ves- 

 sel had arrived, and that she was to sail in a few days for 

 St. Helena. On the following morning, the first day of the 

 year 1852, a parcel of European letters was handed to me. 

 It was now fully twenty months since I had heard any news 

 of my friends, and I hailed this token of their interest in my 

 behalf with rapture. But alas! although I had much to be 

 thankful for, the intelligence was damped by the unexpected 

 tidings of the death of a younger brother. Poor fellow! 

 notwithstanding he and I could never agree during life, I 

 loved him dearly. His last w^ords, uttered in delirium, were 

 said to have been addressed to me, imploring me to come to 

 his assistance. He died at Rio Janeiro of that scourge, the 

 yellow fever. Peace be to his memory ! The cholera was 

 also raging in Sweden, and I trembled for the news that might 

 next reach me. 



I proceeded immediately to Walfisch Bay to bid farewell 

 to Galton. John Williams, John Mortar, and Timbo were 

 to accompany him to St. Helena, whence they were to be 

 forwarded to Cape-Town. Hans — in himself a host — John 

 Allen, and John St. Helena, agreed to remain with me. 



My specimens of natural history, which had been collected 

 with much care and trouble, and which had cost me many a 

 sleepless night, I consigned to Galton' s care. They consisted 

 of about five hundred bird-skins, nearly double that number 

 of insects, and a few odds and ends. I also took this oppor- 

 tunity to forward several letters to my European friends. 



Galton appeared delighted with the prospect of soon re- 

 turning to civilized life. Though he had proved himself to 

 be capable of enduring hardships and fatigue as well as any 

 of us, it was evident that he had had enough of it. 



