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EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXXVI. 



persuaded to accompany me to the hill, as I re- 

 peatedly urged them to do. In the end, it ap- 

 peared that the former of these worthies had some 

 days before sold his ox to the latter for a stipulated 

 sum, which was to be paid on arrival at Graaff 

 Reinet ; and never was their apathy and indifference 

 to the interest of their masters more perfectly 

 illustrated than on the present occasion — the 

 irreparable loss which we, through their agency, 

 had sustained, being totally merged in a dispute 

 which had arisen between the two principal delin- 

 quents as to which was to be considered the owner 

 and loser of the one-eyed Miitlee. 



It rained pitilessly during the night, and in the 

 morning three of our oxen were stiff and cold, four 

 others being quite unable to rise. The accursed 

 women, who had in a great measure been instru- 

 mental to this disastrous state of affairs, had never- 

 theless in some degree assisted us in finding the 

 remedy — the pretty Bush-girl having informed us 

 that there was a boor's habitation about two days' 

 journey to the westward of our camp. To that 

 quarter every eye had been anxiously turned ; and 

 as another cheerless evening closed upon us, 

 unusual columns of dust which arose in the distant 

 horizon, appeared to be indicative of flocks returning 

 from pasture. It was therefore resolved that I 

 shoidd set forth immediately in that direction in 

 search of assistance, leaving Richardson to proceed 

 to a point agreed upon, at whatever pace six suffering 

 oxen could transport our heavy vans; and that 



