330 ANDRIES'S NEGLECT. — TALES IN THE NIGHT-WATCH. 6, 7 July, 
fore, of other, and very different, occupations, the task fell upon me 
to direct and superintend the business of caulking the joints with, 
either pieces of canvas dipped in hot pitch, or with small wedges of 
wood. I employed others of my people in casting musket-balls, and 
some in making cartridges. 
In the meantime Andries, whose turn it was to attend our few 
remaining sheep while at pasture, seemed desirous of giving me proofs 
of his worthlessness, and so totally neglected his duty, that, at an early 
hour, it was discovered that they had strayed away. Two Hotten- 
tots were sent in search, and after a few hours, brought them home. 
But, determined on putting my patience to another trial, he suffered 
them, in the course of the afternoon, again to stray so far that they 
could not be found that night. On the next morning, men were sent 
out to follow their track; and it was very unexpected good fortune, 
that they were all met with and brought back by noon. It was seldom 
that my Hottentots would condemn, or give evidence against each 
other ; but this time they all exclaimed loudly against Andries, as he 
had given them so much trouble in repairing his neglect, and 
recommended that his rations of tobacco should be withheld : a 
recommendation to which I readily attended ; as we had on several 
occasions ascertained that it was a mode of correction in which there 
was considerable efficacy. 
Desiring my men to wake me at a little after midnight, I pointed 
out to one of them, who was at that hour to be on guard, the star 
Arcturus, and ordered him to call me when he saw it setting. I 
thought it useful to show by my occasional presence at such times, 
that I did not impose on them any hardship, in v/hich I was not 
willing to bear a share, as I conceived that it might lead them to 
think lighter of the task. 
The night was exceedingly chilly ; and, being now in a part of 
the country where Bushmen seldom came, we were not, as hitherto, 
prevented, by the fear of betraying our position, from keeping up a 
large fire : and those whose watch was ended, not being inclined to 
sleep, the number of the party round the fire continued increasing till 
the morning. They amused both themselves and me, by relating to 
