VI THE LATE 



ploration. But it seemed as if both, nature and man had 

 combined to baffle the execution of his design. The course 

 of their travel lay along a desert of moving sand, where no 

 water was to be found, and little herbage, save a coarse 

 tufted grass and twigs of the resinous myrrh. The imme- 

 diate place of their destination was Angra Peguena, on the 

 coast, described as a frequented station, but which in reality 

 was deserted. One ship only was in the offing when the 

 travellers arrived, and to their inexpressible mortification, 

 they discovered that she was outward bound. No trace 

 was visible of the river or streams laid down in the maps 

 as falling into the sea at this point, and no resource was 

 left to the travellers save that of retracing their steps 

 a labour for which their strength was hardly adequate. 

 But for the opportune assistance of a body of natives, who 

 encountered them at the very moment when they were 

 sinking from fatigue and thirst, Ruxton and his companion 

 would have been added to the long catalogue of those 

 whose lives have been sacrificed in the attempt to explore 

 the interior of that fatal country. 



The jealousy of the traders, and of the missionaries 

 settled on the African coast, who constantly withheld or 

 perverted that information which was absolutely necessary 

 for the successful prosecution of the journey, induced 

 Ruxton to abandon the attempt for the present. He made, 

 however, several interesting excursions towards the interior, 

 and more especially in the country of the Bosjesmans. 



Finding his own resources inadequate for the accom- 

 plishment of his favourite project, Mr Ruxton, on his 

 return to England, made application for Government assist- 

 ance. But though this demand was not altogether refused, 

 it having been referred to the Council of the Royal Geo- 

 graphical Society, and favourably reported upon by that 

 body, so many delays interposed that Ruxton, in disgust, 

 resolved to withdraw from the scheme, and to abandon 



