1812. 
HOTTENTOT APATHY.— SLEEPING IN THE RAIN. 
131 
again sunk upon us ; and a violent and heavy rain, which ceased not 
during the whole night, had just commenced. At a little distance 
from my men, I prepared a spot, by forming a layer of bushes 
to keep my baggage and bedding from the ground which, being on 
a declivity, was deluged with streams of water. As it would have 
been folly to spread out my bed in such a situation, I seated myself 
upon my baggage, and held the umbrella over me. I waited for 
nearly an hour, expecting supper ; but nothing was brought. I at 
length rose, and on going to the fire, found it extinguished, and all 
my people wrapped up in their karosses, for the night. My cook, 
with true Hottentot sang-froid, informed me that the water, which 
ran down from the higher ground, together with the rain, had washed 
away the fire, before the meat was half broiled. So that, finding 
this, he had put the chop intended for me, upon the bush, and laid 
down to sleep, without thinking it necessary to put me out of 
suspense, or to let me know that I was to have no supper that evening. 
I therefore resumed my seat upon the layer of bushes, and covered 
myself up with my watch-coat. In this situation I passed a miserable 
night ; with a cold rain pouring down from above, and torrents of 
water running under me. I sometimes fell asleep, but my feet being 
seized with cramp, I soon awoke again, and had sufficient reason for 
rejoicing at the return of daylight. 
23rc?. The rain had ceased, but was now succeeded by the same 
drizzling mist as before ; yet I had the consolation of finding all my 
people able to bear another day's travelling, and the boy not only 
alive, but recovered. 
That a Bushman could suffer so much from the inclemencies of 
the weather, was a case which I had never expected ; nor do I think 
it one which occurs often. This poor little fellow was young and 
extremely slender, and at the same time, almost naked ; circumstances 
which might well render him obnoxious to a degree of cold which 
perhaps, to be estimated correctly, should be considered as extremely 
severe and uncommon in this part of the globe. I could not but 
admire the fortitude with which he bore his sufferino;s : he never com- 
plained ; but continued without a murmur, patiently walking on, till 
s 2 
