38 Memoir of Sir Andrew Smith, by Alex. Michie. 



great anxiety was manifested at the Cape for a more accurate 

 knowledge of the tribes, the geographical features, and natural 

 productions of the country. Accordingly, there was formed at 

 Capetown, in 1833, the Association for the Exploration of Cen- 

 tral South Africa,* and an influential committee was appointed, 

 who, in a few weeks, reported that they had made the offer of 

 the direction to Dr Smith, being of opinion that ' ' few persons, 

 if any other in the colony, could have been selected so well quali- 

 fied for the undertaking by scientific acquirements, zeal, courage, 

 activity, and experience as a traveller." It was arranged that 

 his old fellow traveller to Natal, Capt. Edie, should go as second 

 in command. The expedition was to include a surveyor and 

 draughtsman, a non-commissioned officer, and a small party of 

 soldiers, as guards to the wagons, of which, seven were con- 

 sidered necessary to secure the success of the undertaking. 



In addition to the objects contemplated by the Association, Dr 

 Smith was commissioned by Sir Lowry Cole to confer with the 

 chiefs of the principal tribes, in order to induce them to give up 

 their barbarous practices, to accord a more favourable reception 

 to traders, and protection to Christian missionaries. Before ar- 

 rangements were completed, considerable difficulty was ex- 

 perienced in obtaining the required number of Hottentot servants. 

 The memory of the disastrous results of former expeditions, and 

 the real or fancied danger of the present, deterred them for a 

 time ; but after much exertion the full complement was engaged ; 

 and in August, 1834, the company, numbering thirteen Europeans 

 and twenty Hottentots, left Graaff Eeinet. Travelling by moder- 

 ate stages across the parched karroo, they reached, in about a 

 fortnight, Philippolis,f the capital of the Griquas. Erom this 

 place a detour was made to visit the Coranna, Basutu, and Man- 

 tatee tribes, and to examine the country toward the sources of 

 the Caledon river. The primary objects for which this journey 

 was undertaken, were successfully accomplished ; but the satis- 

 faction was clouded by a serious accident to Capt. Edie, which 

 deprived the expedition of his services ; by the death, by 



* The late Hon. J. E. Elliot, M.P., was a member of this Association. 



t The last Sunday in the colony was spent at Colesburg, where they wit- 

 nessed the baptism of forty children by the Rev. Mr Murray, of Graaff- 

 Eeinet, who had the spiritual charge of the scattered settlers connected with 

 the Dutch Reformed Church, and visited them three times in the year to 

 administer the ordinances of religion. 



