Interior Parts of Africa. 241 



toiafter to fend him back to Falfe Bay, where he expected he 

 mould have an opportunity of effecting his efcape with the 

 lefs danger of detection. This requeft was granted, and he 

 fet. out for the Bay on the 14th of November 1783, after hav- 

 ing put his box into the Company's waggon, received twelve 

 months pay due to him, and difpofed of various articles 

 which he considered as entirely ufelefs for his intended expe- 

 dition. 



Among the Dutch troops at the Meifenberge was a cor- 

 poral named Martens, a native of Hanover, who having 

 accompanied Colonel Gordon on a journey into the interior 

 part of the country as far as Caffraria, had conftru&ed a map 

 of the diftricts through which he had palled and prefented it 

 to the Company, under an idea that he fhould be rewarded 

 for his trouble ; but inftead of a reward, he was enjoined, 

 under the pain of fevere punifliment, never to attempt any 

 thing of the like kind in future. This man however was fo 

 fond of thefe purfuits, that he ftill amufed himfelf with 

 making charts, and our traveller after fome difficulty pre- 

 vailed on him to allow him to copy fome of them in order to 

 aflift him in his enterprife. 



On the 24th of December, everything being ready for his 

 journey, he obtained leave of abfence from the fergeant on 

 command under pretence of going to the Cape Town, but 

 proceeded towards Slielcnbufch, fo called from a governor of 

 the name of Van Stiel, who formerly prefided over the Dutch 

 fettlements at the Cape, where he arrived next evening. 

 Being acquainted with the bailiff of this farm, who had often 

 fecn him at Mr. Brand's houfe, he accofted him with con- 

 fidence, and was received in a very friendly manner, efpecially 

 as he told him that he was going to his matter's plantation, 

 to fee that every thing was properly conducted. 



At this place Damberger purchafed a new fowling-piece, 

 and on the 26th proceeded to the farm of another acquaint- 

 ance, named Munch, from whom he obtained two pounds 

 of powder and thirty balls. On the 27th he came in fight bf 

 his matter's farm, but did not approach it till the evening, left 

 he mould be obferved by the bailiff. As foon as it was dark 

 he went privately into the apartment inhabited by the flaves, 



Vol, VI I. I i whom 



