4 
FRIENDLY ASSISTANCE. 
26 Feb. 
procure any further addition to our number : I was, however, well 
satisfied at having secured even one more. 
Our viaticum of corn consisted only of about half a bushel of 
wheat, which the people immediately set about grinding ; the mill 
at this place being fortunately in better order than the one at Rlaar- 
water. 
26th. We obtained a quantity of dakka, or hemp-leaves, a very 
acceptable present to the Bushmen, who, as before stated, use it 
i'oY smoking instead of tobacco. As a precaution, I ordered a large 
jug of milk to be boiled, that we might take it with us ; for I had 
remarked, that when not boiled, it had, in a few hours' travelling, 
either turned sour, or by the constant motion become buttermilk, 
the butter having been completely separated by this kind of churning, 
and formed into round balls, which floated on the surface. We also 
cast an additional store of bullets, that we might be prudently pre- 
pared against any attack from the inhabitants of the country through 
which we were about to pass, and whose disposition was equally 
unknown to all of us ; although, while making this provision, we 
were more inclined to believe it would only be consumed in hunting. 
I made another drawing of the village and surrounding mountains, 
from a point of view different from those of my former sketches.* 
The business of grinding corn detained us till past three in the 
afternoon ; when I took my leave of the friendly Captain Berends, 
to whom, indeed, I was indebted, in the affair of hiring men, for all 
the assistance which I had received, beyond what had been affected 
by my own Hottentots. The inhabitants of his kraal assembled 
around us to witness our departure, and bade us farewell in a manner 
which afforded pleasure to myself, and animated all my party with the 
highest spirits, and raised their confidence in a safe return ; a con- 
fidence of no small importance on such occasions, and not of mere 
imaginary utility in contributing to ultimate success. 
We followed the course of the rivulet as it winds along the nar- 
See the Vignette in Vol. I. at page 323. 
