o25r 
As several of our friends have shewn a kindly interest 
in our trip last year to South Africa, and expressed a wish 
for an account of what we did and where we went, I have 
printed a few copies of the Journal which we kept during 
our travels. The following pages are a plain account of 
our daily life and doings, and would be of no interest to 
the general public; but as they are only intended for 
private circulation, I may hope that due allowance will be 
made for the want of style and the numerous faults, both 
of omission and commission, which, as a book," I know 
that they contain. 
For some time past I had been desirous of making a 
short excursion into the interior of South Africa, partly 
with a view to see something of the country, but principally 
for the sake of the excellent sport afforded by the numerous 
varieties of both large and small game which are to be 
found there ; but the convenient season for such a long 
absence from home never seemed to arrive till, in the 
Winter of 1872, after much consultation, we determined to 
make a start in the following Spring. I say we, for my 
wife, with great spirit, agreed to accompany me, and 
learn by experience whether the anticipated pleasure and 
