CHAP. I.] MY TKAVELLING CORTEGE. 11 



Government, and unlimited respect for a large letter 

 with a large seal, but that I had much better keep 

 out of his way. This I think is a faithful summary 

 of aU that I could learn, and I soon set to work to 

 act vipon it. 



Cape Town abounds with mules, small well-bred 

 looking things, so I made inquiries and bought eight 

 that had been well broken into harness, and were 

 in good condition ; I could only buy one pack-mule, 

 which made my ninth. Mules had withstood the dis- 

 temper so well in Bechuana country, that I trusted that 

 at least half of them would live untU my wanderings 

 were ended. I then bought a large strongly-built cart 

 for them to di'aw, and with it I purposed to make my first 

 expedition up the country, carrying the heavy articles of 

 exchange and bringing back oxen. I also bought two 

 waggons — I beUeve the only two travelhng waggons 

 in Cape Town — for now-a-days the march of intellect 

 has inspired even the ponderous Dutchmen, and they 

 make good roads and use lighter vehicles. These 

 were to be drawn by the oxen that I intended to buy 

 in the country, and the mules, as I calculated, would 

 be strong enough to pull them from Walfisch Bay to 

 Scheppmansdorf, the first station, and thence to go on 

 with the cart and articles of exchange. As there was no 

 grass at Walfisch Bay, I took plenty of corn for my 

 cattle, and a cask of good water for ourselves ; the 

 mules would drink at Sand Fountain, the place three 

 miles off. I only took two horses, as I knew they 

 would be victuns to distemper before the important 

 part of my journey commenced ; and I bought but few 



