2 
SENTIMENTS AT DEPARTURE. 
24, 25 Fbb. 
which might lead to our destruction ; and which, at best, presented, 
according to their views, little probability of a successful result. 
The principal inhabitants of the kraal, when we bade them farewell 
and rode off, viewed us as persons whom they had no expectation 
of ever seeing again. 
As soon as we had lost sight of the village, and my party had 
all joined company, I rejoiced at finding myself once more free ; and 
felt relieved from an oppressive and teasing load of daily vexations, 
which the lightness of my spirits now assured me I had left behind. 
As the African custom (Vol. i. page 173.) of accompanying a tra- 
veller for a short distance out of their kraal, was in this instance 
either forgotten or intentionally omitted, our communication with 
the inhabitants of Klaarwater ended when we passed their huts : 
and we were thus left sooner at liberty to turn all our thoughts 
forward. 
Not to allow time for the disheartening and ill-foreboding re- 
marks which had just been sounded in our ears, to make any 
impression on the minds of my men, or to shake the courage, or 
cloud the alacrity, with which they had commenced the undertaking, 
I seized the first moments to speak of our journey in a manner which 
should convince them that there was in mv own mind not the least 
doubt of success. I know not whether such an address might have 
been at that time really necessary, or how far it might have operated 
in re-inspiring them with confidence ; but I felt truly happy at no- 
ticing the pleasure with which they talked on the subject, and their 
congratulations to each other on having at last completed all arrange- 
ments, and on being now actually on the road. 
We drove with us six sheep, as a resource whenever our hunting 
should fail to supply us with game ; and the appearance of the party 
was much enlivened by the company of our faithful dogs ; to all of 
which, I confess, I felt a kind of attachment which derived additional 
strength from the peculiar circumstances of the journey now before 
me. But Wantrouw had gradually rendered himself the favorite, 
and seemed conscious of the preference, as he always kept close by 
my side, excepting when the chase, in which he was eager to excess, 
Da 
