6 DANGERS OF THE ROAD. [chap. i. 



back some travellers, and that in all probability they 

 would send a " commando " to take immediate and 

 exclusive possession of the lake country. Sir Harry 

 Smith, then Governor of the Cape, was so good as 

 to put me m immediate possession of the news, and 

 strongly dissuaded me from attempting to pass them, 

 not because there was any risk to my life, but because 

 after the tedious journey of six weeks or two months 

 that led to theii* country, I should be met by these 

 Boers, and almost to a certainty stopped, robbed, and 

 turned back. There was no road to the left of these 

 people, because they live up to the verge of the great 

 Karrikarri desert, wliich takes up aU the middle of 

 South Africa, whilst any party taking the road to their 

 right would have to pass in the frrst instance through 

 the whole length of the Caffre country, and then to 

 the fever- stricken neighbourhood of the west coast. 

 In fact when the Boers chose to stop aU commu- 

 nication from the Colony northwards, by the usual 

 route, they were perfectly able to do so. 



In a few days the intelligence that had before been 

 received about the Boers' intentions became more fuUy 

 confirmed, and I had to think of other ways of getting 

 to the tropical lands of South Africa. My first thought 

 was to try the east coast, by Delagoa Bay, but that plan 

 was instantly abandoned on account of the fearful 

 unhealtliiness of the district. Next I thought of the 

 Mozambique, and of landing at Quillimaine — a plan 

 which was warmly advocated by a Portuguese gentle- 

 man of the highest standing at that place, Signore 

 Isidore Pereira. 



