338 



PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. 



The last of my servants, also a Hottentot and a wagon- 

 driver, known as " old Piet," was, however, a most excellent 

 and well-behaved man. He had been, it is true, in the habit 

 of getting drunk, but, once out of the Cape, he proved him- 

 self 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 at- 

 tentive to me when I was laid 

 up by fever, was about to un- 

 dertake a trading excursion to 

 Walfisch Bay, I gladly availed 

 myself of the opportunity thus 

 aiForded of dividing between us 

 the expenses of a vessel ; a con- 

 siderable sum was accordingly 

 saved to me. 



At last, after many difficul- 

 ties and delays, we were ready ; 

 and on the sixteenth of January, 

 having embarked in the schoon- 

 er Flying Fish, we unfurled our 

 sails and bade farewell to Cape- 

 Town, where, during a second stay, I enjoyed much kindness 

 and hospitality. 



* The above wood-cut is a portrait of a negro youth bom and bred 

 at the Cape. He has been jobbing, and is returning home with the 

 various articles intrusted to his charge. 



NEGRO-BOY.'' 



