SOUTHERN AFRICA. 281 



our Avag-o'ons were at length taken to pieces, and transported 

 wheel by wheel, into the colony. This tedious operation 

 occupied an entire day, and so frig-htfully strong- was the 

 current that in bringing" the oxen across, poor Wdtefoot, 

 the only survivor of our NmicU team, that till now had 

 escaped unscathed, and had never once failed us during our 

 long pilgrimage, was clumsily forced under the raft, and 

 drowned. Some consolation, however, was to be derived 

 fi'om the information that our loss was comparatively trifling, 

 a loaded waggon having a short time before slipped off the 

 raft, and gone bodily to the bottom. 



At length, then, we were fairly standing upon the civilized 

 ground of the Hantam. Loud was the shouting and huzzaing, 

 and many were the discharges of musketry, that proclaimed 

 the fact of which, however, the inhospitable conduct of an 

 insolent boor, named Pienaar, at whose farm we passed the 

 nio-ht, might almost have rendered us sceptical. Not a blade 

 of grass met the eye from this moment ; and as we were 

 penniless, we could only obtain, with difficulty, provisions in 

 exchange for tea, sugar, and tar ; which last, being used in 

 the composition for greasing the wheels (an operation which 

 it was found necessary to perform every other day), was 

 fortunately in great demand amongst the boors. Every 

 Hottentot now tricked himself out in ostrich plumes, and 

 drao-ged to light some hidden article of finery which had 

 been reserved against his return amongst his clansmen, for 

 whose especial edification he had also prepared right won- 

 drous tales of his deeds in arms, and his perils by field and 

 flood. The town of Colesberg being known to possess a 

 licensed retailer of ardent spirits, we preferred passing the 

 night of the 18 th without water, to visiting it ] but after 

 all it was only by frequent pointed allusions to field cornets, 

 and clerks of the peace, that the impatient and thirsty souls 

 were prevented from absconding thither. 



