Chap. III.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 13 



CHAPTER III. 



JOURNEY FROM GRAHAM'S TOWN TO GRAAFF 

 REINKT. 



For the moderate remuneration of one hundred 

 Rix dollars, equal to about seven pounds sterling, 

 Mr. Pollard, junior, the innkeeper's son, volunteered 

 to accompany us with his waggon as far as Somer- 

 set, a small town about half way to Graaff Reinet, 

 where his maternal uncle resided ; but by dint of 

 attending the market every morning we contrived, 

 on the 26th of the month, to obtain a return vehicle 

 for one-fourth of the suni . When we had proceeded 

 about a mile, one of the lately purchased horses 

 deserted, and I did not succeed in re- capturing him 

 until he had re-entered Graham's Town. After 

 travelling ten miles, our waggon having been care- 

 lessly driven by Andries, became entangled in a 

 wiry unyielding bush, and could not be extricated 

 without the assistance of hatchets. John Strydom, 

 the fat good-natured proprietor of the waggon that 

 we had hired, took advantage of this delay to ride 

 back upon a horse that he borrowed from us, in 

 order to recover a cash receipt of some importance, 

 which he fancied he had dropped, and returned 

 about the middle of the night, having completely 

 knocked up the steed. What added to our vexation 



