CHAP. IX.] THE WAGGONS ARE CONDEMNED. 247 



Town. They tried to establish sets of messengers 

 from Rehoboth to the Orange Eiver, but the road is so 

 long and difficult that the plan had to be abandoned. 

 One of these messengers murdered his comrade, and 

 said that he had been eaten by a lion ; at another time 

 the letters were spoilt by the rains : on every occasion 

 there was some delay or accident. 



I was delighted to find that the Hottentots had 

 remained very peaceable, only those under Cornelius 

 having done any mischief to the Damaras during my 

 absence. Confidence was being restored, and troops 

 of Damaras were gathered about the watering-places 

 and pastm-ages of the Swakop, which had long been 

 abandoned on account of their dangerous proximity to 

 Jonker. 



Now, as regards my own plans, the waggons were 

 pronounced scarcely fit for an overland joiu-ney to the 

 Cape. The tires of the wheels were worn out ; the 

 mended axletree was of doubtful wood ; and the 

 waggons were altogether become rickety. On the 

 other hand, the missionaries expected a vessel some 

 time not earlier than December, and we were now at 

 the beginning of August. If, then, I returned by the 

 ship, I should have August, September, October, and 

 half November, to do what I liked in, and leaving 

 Barmen not later than the end of the first fortnight in 

 November, I could easily push down to the bay in time 

 to join the vessel. 



As a way of ridding myself of the waggons and all 

 my remaining properties, I should arrange with Hans 

 to act as agent for me to convert them into oxen, and 



