240 APPENDIX. 
before us; we soon found their spoor, and in an hour came 
up with the poor creatures, resting themselves under a tree. 
The women told us that the villain Barends, the cause of 
all our misfortunes, had taken the horse that they were 
mounted on from them, and getting upon it himself, along 
with his little son, galloped off and left them to their fate. 
Two of the Griqua boys were still missing, nor have I ever 
been able to learn what became of them. 
As I had now no chance of ever obtaining anything more 
from my waggons, I resolved on making the best of our way 
homewards, the fruits of all my labours for many months 
being lost at one blow, as my splendid collection of natural 
history, a great part of which would have been quite new to 
the cabinets of the curious, was now, without doubt, con- 
signed to the flames. However, to repine at one’s fate avails 
nothing; besides, I think it unmanly, so 
“‘T whistled up ‘ Lord Lennox’ March,’ 
To keep my spirits cheerie.”’ 
My loss in waggons, cattle, books, instruments, and many 
other valuable articles I had with me, cannot. be less esti- 
mated than at Rds. 6000, and as I had every prospect of 
making a profitable journey, I caunot compute my total 
loss at less than 11 or 12,000 Rds. No trifle for a poor 
devil like myself! 
We commenced our homeward journey, walking and_ 
riding alternately, as we had not near sufficient horses for 
the whole party, and we jogged on as merrily as our unfor- 
tunate circumstances would admit of. We had no guide or 
track to lead us to any place of rest, but taking a south- 
westerly course, trusted to Providence to lead us to Mateto, 
the nearest missionary station. 
The day was excessively hot, but the sun set upon us 
