TROPICAL SOUTH AFRICA. 



CHAPTEK I. 



Determine to travel in Africa. — Motives for the journey. — Preparations. — 

 Stock in Trade. — An Emigrant Ship. — Arrival at Cape Town. — 

 Dangers of the Road. — Change of Route. — Determine to proceed by 

 WalfischBay. — Necessary outfit. — Prospects of the Route.- — Travelling 

 Cortege. — Servants and Dogs. — Arrival at Walfisch Bay. — The 

 Natives. — Extraordinary Mirage. — The Kuisip River. — Tobacco. — 

 Ride-Oxen. — Disembarking. — Misadventure at Starting. — Perils of 

 the Desert. — The 'Nara. — The Mission at Scheppmansdorf. 



It was in 1849 that I deteiTnined upon a long travel 

 in Africa. I had been there once ; and then, landing at 

 Alexandria, sailed or rode far beyond all the deserts, 

 temples, and cataracts of EgjT^t, until I had fairly 

 entered the " Soudan," or country of the Blacks — that 

 zone of the troj^ical vegetation, to which the name of 

 Central Africa properly applies. 



It was a tour hastily performed, but still sufficient 

 to imbue or poison me with that fascination for further 

 enterprise, which African tourists have so especially 

 felt — a fascination which has often enough proved its 



