1812. 
FROM COLD WEATHER. 
129 
which, among blacks, is the visible symptom of, either approaching 
dissolution, or the decay of energy in the vital functions. 
The most distressing reflections crowded on my mind. It ap- 
peared that the hand of death lay already upon him. What was I 
to tell the father at my return ! That he had died of cold ? This 
would not have been believed. I should have been accused of 
being the cause of his death ; or of having left him in captivity 
under some of the boors. My return through the Bushmen's 
country would be impracticable. Kaabi, and the whole tribe, would 
have considered me no longer as their friend ; but as one who had 
treacherously deceived them and betrayed the confidence of a father. 
The whole plan of my travels was deranged. I could not rejoin my 
waggons but by making a circuit by the Sack river again, and waiting 
for some favorable opportunity of crossing the Cisgariepine. These 
sad forebodings rushed upon me, and entirely occupied my mind : 
they made me forget my own personal feelings, and that every one 
of my men was now suffering from the severity of the weather. 
We had therefore no alternative but to halt, although in an 
exposed open place without a tree, or scarcely a bush, that could 
afford vis shelter. While those who were able to move, were un- 
loading the oxen, two others went in search of firewood. This spot 
I have distinguished on the map, by the name of Cold Station; a 
name which, at this time, was more applicable to it, than to any 
other station in the whole of my travels. 
On account of the rain which continued falling, and the wetness 
of our fuel, we found the greatest difficulty in kindling a fire ; but 
the people took care afterwards to supply it with large quantities of 
wood, so that for some hours, it continued to burn in spite of the 
mist and rain. 
My first concern was to bring the Bushboy to life ; for he had 
no other appearance than that of a dying person. We placed him 
by the fire, and 1 wrapped him up in one of my own blankets : but 
he remained for half an hour completely speechless, and nearly 
unable to move. He took no notice either of the fire, or of any 
VOL. II. s 
