SOUTHERN AFRICA. 225 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



DESERTION OF OUR ESCORT^ AND ARRIVAL AT THE 



RIVER VAAL. 



Awaking as the brig-ht morning- star, " flay's harbing-er/' 

 shot above the eastern horizon, I perceived four elands 

 standing- within a few yards of the camp, undetected by the 

 vig-ilance of the sentinels, whose e3'es nevertheless were wide 

 open. Directions for 3'oking" the oxen were no sooner given, 

 than the g-uides commenced packing* their g-oods and chattels, 

 and otherwise preparing- for their retm-n to the king-. Seeing- 

 the impossibility of inducing- them to accompany us farther 

 on our journey, and apprehensive of their resentment if the 

 rewards were withheld, we made a merit of necessity, and 

 attempted to restore them to g-ood humour, by presenting- 

 each in his turn with a red woollen nig-ht-cap, and a complete 

 suit of European clothing-, tog-ether with some beads which 

 had been expressly reserved for their use. The only remain- 

 ino' coil of brass wire was likewise handed over, with a box 

 of lucifers and a few mould candles, as a farewell offering- to 

 his Majesty, to whom we desired a complimentary messag^e, 

 expressive of our reg-ret at having- been deprived of the 

 means of sending- him the g-un from the Vaal River. Here- 

 upon, spurning the proffered treasures from them, the 

 savages indig-nantly demanded if such rubbish could be con- 

 sidered a suitable recompense for their long- and meritorious 

 services, feig-ning- at the same time as if about to retire. 

 After some consultation, however, they carefully scraped 



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