424 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



men, who fear not aught in earth, dread not the desert 

 or its wild beasts, fear not the Great Thirst Land or its 

 hardships, all intently listening, all enjoying, all feeding 

 upon the precepts inculcated in the Holy Book. 



The service is over, every one directs his steps to the 

 traders' quarters, but I venture to say that for the first 

 two hundred yards not one speaks, for he has listened 

 to, and inwardly digested, the solemn words of love, 

 kindness, and remembrance that have been expounded 

 in the hearing of all. 



At many a sinner's parting scene I have been present, 

 and have felt it so much that I almost wished I had 

 been victim instead of spectator. Still I never remember 

 to have witnessed anything so impressive, so remindful 

 of the termination of our earthly career and of the Great 

 Hereafter as those little assemblies in Mr. Mackenzie's 

 house. 



I have much to do, for here I must break up my 

 accessories. Mr. Mackenzie takes back Euby at the 

 price I paid for her ; two days after he was offered, I 

 believe, double the sum by a trader. May she go into 

 good and kind hands, is my earnest wish. If I could 

 have retained her I would have done so, but such was 

 impossible ; but Euby, darling, your memory is dear to 

 me, and ever will be till the end of life. Bonty and 

 poor broken-legged Bob were given to King Kama, 

 Portobello, alias Forty, was returned to Mr. Mackenzie, 

 who also purchased six of my bullocks. 



Thus disencumbered, I determined with almost empty 

 wagon to cross that portion of the Kalahari that inter- 

 venes between Bamanwatto and Sechelle's. In conse- 

 quence I had my wagon taken down on the flat, where 

 I was detained several days in trying to obtain a 



