160 NATIVE IMPORTUNITY. 



urgent with oie to remain until the water should 

 subside, that I might cross with my waggon, when 

 they hoped to induce me to effect an exchange, as 

 they were preparing for a large hunting excursion into 

 the interior of the country, and were much in want 

 of guns, powder, and lead, of which they seemed to 

 think I must possess an abundant supply. I told 

 them, however, that such traffic was contrary to the 

 law of the colony ; that I was no trader, and had 

 merely come to visit their country from motives of 

 curiosity ; but that, as the river from its present 

 appearance would probably not be fordable for some 

 time, I should be under the necessity of returning 

 without gratifying my wishes. I moreover told 

 them that, as I had nothing of the description they 

 wanted, beyond what was requisite for my own use, 

 I could not conveniently comply with their request. 

 I therefore urged them to return, but they followed 

 me up to the waggon, and soon began to be very 

 troublesome, nor was it without considerable diffi- 

 culty that I succeeded in keeping them at distance, 

 until the arrival of Mr. Melville's son, when they 

 quietly took their departure, and occasioned me no 

 further annoyance. 



Having been on terms of intimacy with Mr. and 

 Mrs. Melville in Cape Town, I was desirous of 

 seeing them, and being a tolerably good swimmer, I 

 felt no hesitation in attempting to reach the opposite 

 side of the river, as it was not more than four him- 



