MEMOIR OF LE VAILLANT. 19 



of his effects and travelling materials was blown 

 into the air ; leaving him entirely destitute in that 

 distant country, beset with native savages on the 

 one hand, and a hostile armament on the other. 

 " My only resource (says he) was in my fowling- 

 piece, with only ten ducats in my purse, and the 

 light dress which I wore." 



In this perplexing dilemma, without knowing 

 whither to betake himself, or what steps to adopt, 

 he had the good luck to meet with an unexpected 

 friend in Colonel Slaber, who received him as his 

 guest, and treated him with the kindliest hospitality. 

 M. Yon Boers, secretary for the colony, likewise 

 took a warm interest in his fate, and became a 

 valuable benefactor. 



After having spent nearly three months at the 

 Cape, or in the neighbouring districts, adding occa- 

 sional specimens to his ornithological stock, M. Le 

 ^ 7 "aillant determined to prosecute his journey farther 

 to the eastward. In general he did not penetrate far 

 into the interior, but kept along the coast ; he made 

 an excursion, however, into Caffraria as far as tli* 

 30th degree of longitude, and almost the 29th of 

 latitude. His reception by the native tribes was 

 friendly; but as hostilities were then declared be- 

 tween them and the colonists, his progress was 

 interrupted, and he was obliged to return by a more 

 northern route across the mountainous regions of 

 Sneeuwe and Cambedon to the Cape, which he 

 reached in safety after an absence of about sixteen 

 months. 



