346 VISITS CORNELIUS CATTLE-TEADE. 



low — honest, willing, obliging, industrious, enduring, but, 

 above all, an inimitable "tracker." Indeed, in this respect 

 he surpassed the Bushmen. Many a weary mile have I trod- 

 den under his able guidance, and many a wild beast have I 

 laid low by his assistance. His sight was also remarkable. 

 I rather pride myself on my experience as a woodsman, and 

 usually proved a match for the natives ; but this youth beat 

 me hollow. My men called him Kamapyu — a most appro- 

 priate name, since it signified hot water. I was at last com- 

 pelled to part with him, which I did with considerable re- 

 luctance. I rewarded his services, which had proved inval- 

 uable to me, by a variety of things, besides sufficient cattle to 

 buy him half a dozen wives, an acquisition which, next to 

 carnivorous food, is the greatest bliss of a savage. 



After my departure from Jonker's I directed my steps to- 

 ward Cornelius. On taking leave of this chief the previous 

 year, I promised forthwith to return with a supply of goods, 

 provided he and his people behaved themselves satisfactorily. 

 In order to save time, I dispatched a messenger to acquaint 

 him with my approach, as also to request him to call his 

 tribe together, and urge them to bring such cattle as they de- 

 sired to dispose of. My wish was attended to ; for, on arriv- 

 ing at the werft, I found about two hundred head of cattle 

 waiting for me, which, after some little bargaining, I secured 

 in the course of two days. I had the misfortune, however, 

 to lose a small portion of this number, which broke through 

 the kraal in the night, and were never again heard of. I 

 strongly suspect they were stolen by the original owners. I 

 had also the mishap to get my telescope spoiled. Being 

 probably smitten by the lustre of the metal, the mischievous 

 Namaqua lads extracted the object-glass, which could be of 

 iio earthly use to them except as an ornament. 



About this time two of my horses died of the " horse-sick- 

 ness." One still remained, and, though a remarkably fleet 

 animal, was so shy as to be useless as a hunter. He was the 



