49 
the 26tli on flie UmtKLazingwan river, and the wagons 
remained here till we started homeward again. A capital 
place for the oxen to recover their strength and condition, 
being in a warm and sheltered valley with plenty of grass. 
On the road from Leydenburg a Caffre hunter, named 
La Mule, joined us, having heard that we wanted men, and 
knowing Dubois by name. He turned out a most 
invaluable ally afterwards, being a man of considerable 
influence amongst the Caffres in this neighbourhood. The 
Caflre we had sent on a-head joined us here, and brought 
unwelcome news, as he had not been able to get any of the 
Mapulani tribe (to whom he had been sent) to come as 
bearers. We now sent off in all directions for Caffres, and 
a considerable number turned up, but so many would only 
go as hunters, of which we only required three or four, 
that they were dismissed as useless. Our two drivers were 
to remain in charge of the wagons and horses during our 
absence ; and we got a Caffre from a neighbouring kraal 
to take care of the oxen and put them into an enclosure 
every night. I thought it rather a risk leaving all our 
things to the Caffres, but Dubois said it was quite safe to 
do so, and so it proved. 
June 28^A. About fifteen men and boys have now 
turned up, who are willing to go as bearers, but I want 
forty or fifty. Sent back to Leydenburg for some meal, as 
we were afraid of our flour running short. Making 
general preparations for a start — casting bullets, putting 
up packages for the bearers, &c. As I can get no more 
donkeys I have settled to chance the oxen dying, and 
intend to take four of them to draw the cart in the ^^fly " 
country, hoping that two of them will live to bring it out 
again ; but it now seems doubtful if we can get the cart 
down the pass to the foot of the mountains, and the 
Caffres declare if we get it down, it wiU not be able to 
D 
