24 EXPEDITION INTO 



rain descended in torrents^ and left us no alternative but to 

 return : in doing- whicli^ one of the less intoxicated Hotten- 

 tots civill}^ carried off tlie corner of a liouse^ by propelling* the 

 heavity laden vehicle ag-ainst it. Dreading- further mishaps^ 

 and satisfied that no dependence could be placed upon our 

 followers^ if once allowed to recover their sobriety and liberty, 

 we finally quitted Graaff Beinet at six p. M. and by ten 

 o'clock had formed our camp ten miles off. 



The morning-'s dawn did not find the Hottentots much 

 g-ratified at their transportation into the desert, coupled as it 

 was with the prospect of a long- and tedious separation from 

 g-in and bitters j and to add to their distress, we insisted 

 also that they should part from their vroums, or wives, before 

 crossing- the Snowy Mountains. As we ascended the accli- 

 vitous road leading- over Sir Lowry Cole's pass into that 

 rang-e, the farewells were abundantly affecting-. John April's 

 interesting- spouse in particular, a neg'ress possessing- all the 

 Hottentot peculiarities fully developed, clung- round the neck 

 of her ^^ dear man" and half smothered him with kisses. 



Before we had proceeded many miles, we were met by a 

 Hottentot riding- post to Graaff Beinet for medical assis- 

 tance J his master, a youn^ Dutch boor, having- been fearfully 

 clawed in a clumsy attempt to destroy a leopard. Soon 

 after, a courier overtook our cavalcade, having- been hired, 

 at an expense of four Bix dollars, to g-allop after us to re- 

 cover a debt of Jive, Avhich, in the hurry of departure, we had 

 neg-lected to settle — an ominous proof that the g-ood people 

 of Graaff' Beinet had little expectation of seeing- us ag-ain. 

 Our friend Mr. Campbell, tog-ether with Mr Lloyd, His 

 Majesty's Special Justice, and several other g-entlemen, 

 joined our party in the evening-, and remained with us until 

 the following- day. 



As we advanced throuo-h the elevated reg-ion of Sneuw- 

 berg-h Proper, the veg-etation became visibly more abundant, 



