1812. 
PHILIP AND SPEELMAN CLAIMED. 
151 
was destined always to have favorable opportunities thrown in my 
way, for trying and proving my patience: for not more than six 
hours before the receipt of this letter, the landdrost himself had set 
out on a journey to the commandant, for the purpose of arranging 
some business which required a personal conference. Nothing there- 
fore could be done with respect to my own affairs, till his return. 
As there appeared so much difficulty in obtaining men at any 
rate, I considered that giving up one out of the only two which 
remained in my service, would really be ' advancing backwards' in the 
affair which brought me to Graaffreynet. I however mentioned his 
colonel's wish to the Hottentot, and now gave him his option of being 
a soldier again, or of returning with me into the Transgariepine ; but 
he had so little hesitation in the choice, that he was even uneasy at 
the idea of the bare proposal of sending him back to his regiment. 
I afterwards repeated this proposal, but as he persisted in the same 
answer ; and as he had been trained to my mode of travelling, and 
was now a veteran in my service, I considered him to be ' indis- 
pensably necessary.' 
Speelman also, was claimed again by a person whom he happened 
unexpectedly one day to meet in the village, and to whom he had 
formerly been hired for a twelvemonth, but had not served out the 
whole period. But he escaped from him, by promising to work 
out the remainder of the time, after his return from the present 
journey. 
During my stay here, much of the time was employed in keep- 
ing my people together, and in watching to prevent their falling into 
harm. They occasioned me continual uneasiness ; for as they had 
now scarcely any occupation, I greatly feared that idleness would lead 
them into disorderly habits. The money I had paid them, together 
with that which they derived from the sale of the shamboks cut from 
the hide of the two rhinoceroses, was to them no source of ad- 
vantage ; and I had the mortification of discovering that nearly the 
whole of it was spent at the pagters. I seldom went to the tent with- 
out perceiving evident symptoms of one or other of these foolish men 
having taken too much brandy : but I have a pleasure in doing them 
