172 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



(scoundrel, I should say) to do all lie could to thwart 

 my getting on, and compel me to sell out and return. 

 From information I afterwards received this impression 

 is confirmed, and I will say that the plot was so well 

 organised that the difficulties, annoyances, and con- 

 stantly recurring standstills were enough to make any 

 man grow sick at heart. Before reaching Klerksdorp 

 I had to pay sum after sum for getting pulled out of 

 spruits, holes, &c. &c., and the worthy I had hired was 

 never with me to assist. It soon appeared that it was 

 but to get into a hole for him to absent himself. That 

 he knew nothing about wagon-driving, and that he 

 was a foul-mouthed bully, I discovered before he and I 

 were together an hour. The name of the recommender 

 and his protege can be learned from me by any one 

 who desires to travel in Africa, and wishes to avoid 

 scoundrels. 



However, although alone, I was not to be daunted. 

 About ten o'clock one morning we approached Klerks- 

 dorp. Between us and it was a deep rapid river, with 

 very rough bottom. Before entering this stream I 

 halted the team to give the cattle breathing-time, and 

 also have an inspection of the ford. But where was the 

 person who should have taken all this labour off my 

 shoulders ? Where ? lying on my bed reading a novel ! 

 Without his assistance, however, I hoped to get through. 

 The cattle approached the water, and, just before 

 entering it, I called a second halt, for I had only Jim 

 for a driver, and Umganey to forelope ; for this new 

 man, who was to make all my ways easy, and all my 

 paths peace, had frightened off the wagoner who had 

 come with me all the way from the Eland river. At 

 length the word was given, in went the cattle, Umganey 



