PERILOUS SITUATION. 161 



dred yards in breadth, Having likewise brought 

 with me one of Mackintosh's life-preservers, I 

 determined on accompanying Mr. Melvill, jun., 

 to Phillipolis, leaving the Hottentots in charge of 

 the waggon, and intending to return the following 

 day. We prepared for entering the river by com- 

 pressing our clothes into as small a bundle as pos- 

 sible, and fastening them round our hats, which 

 were tied under our chins ; and being thus equipped, 

 we plunged into the stream. I had not, however, 

 made much progress, when I found the pressure of 

 the life-preserver upon my chest so severe, that the 

 difficulty of respiration much increased with the exer- 

 tion of swimming ; and thinking to relieve myself by 

 a change of position, I endeavoured to float on my 

 back, when the weight of clothes about my head 

 forced me under water, and I found that I was ap- 

 proaching within the influence of the current, which 

 was very strong and rapid. Asking Melvill if he 

 thought we should be able to reach an island in the mid- 

 dle of the river, which would have afforded a resting 

 place, he replied that he thought it would be impos- 

 sible, as we were now too far down the stream. I then 

 at once made up my mind to return, as my strength 

 was fast failing, and we were approaching the centre 

 of the channel, where the current was so impetuous 

 that I should have lost all power of resistance, and 

 must have inevitably perished. With considerable 

 difficulty I succeeded in regaining the bank, upon 

 VOL. i. M 



