540 
ON ESTABLISHING WITH THE BICHUANA NATIONS 
converted to any use or profit. Enough has been shown in the pre- 
ceding account, and which my own knowledge of the prime-cost of 
ivory fully corroborates, to prove that the gains in such a trade, 
whether on a large, or on a small, scale, would be unusually great; 
for, as sheep in any number may be purchased in the grazing districts 
of the Colony, for two rix-doUars * each, it may easily be calculated, 
after deducting all the necessary expenses, how large a share of profit 
would remain, even supposing that in future the prime-cost should 
be doubled, or that beads or other goods of European manufacture 
should, instead of sheep, become the medium of purchase. But there 
is little doubt that farther in the Interior, or among tribes hitherto 
unvisited by traders, the quantity to be obtained would be greater, 
and the price, less. The establishment of an authorized body of 
traders, or a joint-stock company, would more effectually obviate 
those irregularities among the natives, which might possibly ensue 
from a competition of speculators having separate interests. Such 
traders would constantly bear in mind that fair-dealing with the 
natives, would be the only means of ensuring to their speculation, a 
continuance of success. By forming themselves into an annual 
caravan of eight or ten waggons with the necessary complement of 
men, under the direction of a person of discretion, they would be 
fully equal to their own protection ; and by making the port at 
Algoa bay the point of commencement and termination of their 
journey, the expenses and duration of the expedition, would be ren- 
dered considerably less than if it should be undertaken directly from 
Cape Town. And besides which, the route from that bay would be 
much more pleasant and convenient both for the traveller and for his 
cattle, as it would follow the course of large rivers for the greatest 
part of the way, and would pass through no country so deficient in 
water, as the Karro and several other parts of my former track to 
Klaarwater and Litakun. The arrangements should be so made that 
* A Cape rix-doUar, as I have before stated, is equal nominally to four shillings cur- 
rency, the real value of which varies, according to the rate of exchange, and is at this 
time (1823) less than two shillings sterling. 
