Allen's, sufferings — hans — partnership. 265 



state of complete nudity ; and, though he had abundance of 

 fuel, he had no means of lighting a lire. Lions and hysenas, 

 moreover, were numerous, and, to add to his misery, the oxen 

 strayed during the night in different directions. In re-collect- 

 ing them the following day, he had to cross the most rugged 

 and jagged rocks, and precipices, and scorching fields of 

 sand, which severely lacerated and blistered his unprotected 

 feet. Most men, I venture to say, under such circumstances, 

 would have left the cattle to their fate. 



As soon as the swollen Kuisip had sufficiently subsided, 

 and the emaciated state of the oxen permitted, I returned 

 from the Bay to Scheppmansdorf. Hans had not been idle 

 during my absence. He had put the wagon in complete or- 

 der, having replaced the axle-tree (which, in our journey from 

 Barmen, had received a serious fracture) with a new one, and 

 shortened the tires of the wheels. He had also made a new 

 covering for the vehicle. I, too, had made considerable prog- 

 ress with regard to the arrangements and preparations for 

 my intended journey. However, on taking a more close sur- 

 vey of my little property, I found that, notwithstanding Mr. 

 Galton had furnished me w^ith a variety of things, I was very 

 deficient in the most important, such as articles for barter, 

 presents for chiefs, instruments for taking observations, pro- 

 visions, &c. As none of these were procurable by purchase 

 from the vessel then in Walfisch Bay, I was placed in an awk- 

 ward position. To proceed Avithout ample supplies of all 

 kinds was not advisable, nor did I much relish the idea of 

 returning to the Cape — the nearest point for a refit — since 

 this could only be accomplished by an overland journey of 

 many months' duration, and the consequent loss of an entire 

 season. Yet, after duly weighing the matter, I determined, 

 though with no small regret, to adopt the latter course. 



I now entered into partnership with Hans, who, on his 

 side, threw into the general stock goods, &c., to the amount of 

 about one hundred and fifty pounds sterling. 



M 



