52 
unpleasant news that Dubois was laid up below the Berg 
with a bad knee, and had built himself a hut. "We 
couldn't at all understand neither seeing or hearing from, 
him, so determined to make a move to the top of the pass, 
and try if we could carry the cart piecemeal down the path 
and go and find Dubois. There were now about seventeen 
men in the camp who were ready to go as bearers, so we 
called them up, shewed them the goods, and they all 
agreed to a certain payment ; so the next day we packed 
the cart, inspanned four of the hardiest bullocks, and 
having given the Caffres their loads we started, reaching 
my old camp, at the head of the pass, about an hour after 
dark, and were very glad to get some supper and turn in, 
as we had had a long walk and a great deal of hard work 
in getting the cart up a steep hill with no road. Christian 
was to come with us, the other driver being left in charge 
of the wagons. Early the next morning we took the cart 
to pieces, and tried to get the Caffres to help us in carrying 
down the body to begin with, which they were most 
unwilling to do ; so it ended in I and Kemp and Christian 
having to go in front, and the Caffres were supposed to 
hold the hind part of the body. Woodroffe went in front 
to cut away the bush where necessary. It was very hard 
work. Sometimes we had to lift the whole thing from one 
step of rock to the next, and the Caffres worked most 
unwillingly, declaring it was of no use, for if we got it 
down it could not travel through the country under the 
Berg. At last, after about three hours' toil, and when we 
were within an hour of the river, they all declared they 
would go back to their kraals if we persisted with the cart, 
and so, afraid of losing them, I had to give in, and there 
the body of the cart remained at the bottom, the pole and 
wheels at the top, never more to be united ; all the trouble 
and expense connected with this confounded delusion 
thrown away, and, worse than all, the idea of enabling E. 
