SOUTHERN AFRICA. 23 



CHAPTER V. 



FROM GRAAFF REINET^ BY THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS^ TO 

 THE BORDERS OF THE COLONY. 



Every preparation for our final departure was completed on 

 the 1st September; but that day^ so auspicious to sportsmen 

 in Europe, ^*^ looked lowering- upon us," — dawning' with a 

 tremendous delug-e of rain, Avhich continued until after noon, 

 and afforded the Hottentots more than sufficient leisure to 

 indulge in their vicious propensities. In accordance with 

 advice that we had received, but the futility of which we 

 were not long- in discovering-, they had each been furnished 

 with a musket, as a defence ag-ainst the wild beasts and 

 savag-es ; and it will be seen hereafter, that whilst their 

 pusillanimity prevented their turning- these weapons to our 

 advantag-e, they employed them but too successfully in 

 scaring- the game fi-om our encampments. On the present 

 occasion our astonishment may be conceived, when on pre- 

 paring to start in the evening-, one-half of the muskets 

 were found to be already in pawn, and the proceeds squan- 

 dered in the g-in-shop. As a consequence, most of the Hot- 

 tentots themselves were discovered to be in such a brutal 

 state of inebriety, that we were obhg-ed— after various ineffec- 

 tual attempts to rouse them, on our own part and that of 

 their more sober brethren, who bang-ed them without mercy 

 — to transfer them like pigs into the waggons which they 

 had been hired to drive. 



In this comfortable condition we commenced our march— 

 but had scarcely passed the outskirts of the village when the 



