SOUTH AFRICA FIFTY YEARS AGO 57 



friend is dead, feels that he did not value him half enough, 

 though he never loved man better. His worth, to those who 

 know the troubles and difficulties of African travelling, may be 

 outlined by the following little story. 



When Livingstone and I made our journey in search of 

 Lake 'Ngami, we held out to our followers that if we were 

 successful we would not attempt to press on further. They 

 were, as a rule, a timid folk, dreading the unknown, too ready 

 to listen to any tale of danger and difficulty that might be 

 in the world beyond, and always eager to turn colony-wards. 

 After some hard work we reached the lake, and success bred 

 in us the wish to do more ; but we were bound to stand to our 

 agreement. At last the desire of penetrating deeper into the 

 land became so strong that I suggested calling a meeting of the 

 servants and trying what our eloquence might effect. After 

 putting before them that we fully recognised our promise ot 

 not constraining them to go with us any further, I told them 

 that the Doctor and I had made up our minds to give them 

 one of the waggons with sufficient stores, supplies and am- 

 munition for their homeward journey, while we ourselves had 

 decided to push on ahead. I further explained to them 

 that they would have no difficulty in reaching the colony, 

 as they knew the waters, and had the wheel-tracks. I 

 paused for a minute, and then added, that though we 

 could not ask them to accompany us, yet that if any one of 

 them was willing to do so, we should be very glad. I rather 

 enlarged upon our ignorance of the country in advance, for we 

 did not wish to influence them unduly to join us. For a few 

 moments there was silence, and blankness of face ; then out 

 stepped John, and speaking in Dutch, as he always did when 

 his feelings were touched, though he at other times spoke 

 English perfectly, said : ' What you eat I can eat, where you 

 sleep I can sleep, where you go I will go ; I will come with 

 you.' The effect was instantaneous. ' We will all go ! ' was 

 the cry. Do you think after that it was much matter to us 

 whether our brother was black or white ? 



