TRAVELS IN 
companions of Jacob Van Reenen, who, a few years before 
had proceeded along the eastern coast in search of the unfor- 
tunate passengers and crew of the Grosvenor Indiaman that 
was wrecked on the shore of the Hamhoonas. This at least 
was the ostensible object of that journey. 
Rensburg was on many accounts a desirable companion on 
the present occasion. He was well acquainted with the coun- 
try : he Avas an excellent marksman ; and he was accompa- 
nied by an old Hottentot that was still better; from this 
man he generally reckoned upon a beast for every ball. 
Two or three others joined us in the evening at the place 
of our encampment, under pretence of looking after the 
oxen which they had furnished for drawing the waggons; 
and the first night that we passed in Kaffer-Iand, the num- 
ber of peasants, that had contrived to smuggle themselves 
into that country, amounted to ten. 
We had not travelled many miles beyond the Hassagai- 
bosch river till the appearance of the whole surface of the 
country in flames indicated our approach to some of the 
stations of the Kaft'ers. We pitched our tents in fact at 
night on the banks of the Kareeka, amidst several hundreds 
of these people, who, on our advancing, came swarming out 
of the thick shrubbery that skirted the river. A party of 
women were the first who advanced to salute us, laughing 
and dancing round the waggons, and putting on all the 
coaxing manners they could invent, with a view of pro- 
curing from us some tobacco and brass buttons. Good 
humour, animation, and a cheerful turn of mind, beamed 
