274 
THE MEETING OF CUPIDO KOK 
21,22 June, 
facts with which I was better acquainted, that I had no hesitation in 
classing it as one of the numerous tales contrived for the purpose of 
alarming my men ; nor was I quite without suspicion of its having 
been invented by Gert himself, with a view of inducing me to give 
up the idea of penetrating so far into the interior of these countries, 
as I had designed. 
Had I been earlier aware of this Hottentot's weakness and 
timidity, I should certainly have left him at the missionary settle- 
ment, and should have spared myself much vexation and trouble on 
his account ; but as I did not, at this time, suspect him of a total 
deficiency of courage, I continued long afterwards to treat him with 
partiality and to rely on his fidelity. He communicated also a secret 
of his own, and which probably had no little influence over his con- 
duct towards me ; after the termination of the journey, he intended 
returning to Klaarwater to marry the widow of one of the two Hot- 
tentots who unfortunately joined Dr. Cowan's fatal expedition, and 
who had agreed to become his wife ; " for," said he " the one I left 
at home at Groene Kloof, is a bad one." 
2'2nd. Early this morning we were roused by the very unexpected 
sound of a waggon approaching, and which soon afterwards halted 
and unyoked at a short distance from us. The party proved to be 
Cwpido Kok with four other Hottentots and six Koras, returning 
from Litakun, where he had been to barter for ivory and oxen. 
He had in his waggon about twenty Elephant's tusks, which had 
been obtained in exchange at the rate of a sheep for each tusk ; 
the Bachapins being very desirous of procuring cattle of that 
kind, it having hitherto been little known to their nation, or, at 
least, seldom reared by them. He was driving home a herd of above 
forty oxen which had been purchased with beads and tobacco. 
I was exceedingly glad at falling in with this man, as I now 
expected to get back my great rifle. But it seemed that all my 
deahngs with the people of that village, were to produce nothing but 
disagreeables and vexation ; for although I obtained my gun again, it 
was rendered useless by the want of the bullet-mould, which, he 
said, he had left at home at his place at Taaibosch Fountain, as he 
