iiS TRAVELS IN 
make them flatter themfelves with gaining an 
equal fliare in the honour of its fuccefs. After 
thefe refledions, I was unwilling to expofe 
myfelf to the rifk of lofing the expences of my 
journey, and the fruits which I expected to 
derive from it. I wiihed to fet out alone, and to 
be abfoiute mafter of myfelf : I therefore kept 
firm to my purpofe ; and, rejecting all thefe 
offers, cut fhort every propofal of the kind 
that was made to me. When my equipage 
was entirely ready, I took leave of my friends, 
and on the i8th of December 1781, at nine in 
the morning, I departed, efcorting my convoy, 
myfelf on horfeback. I did not intend to make 
a long m^arch, According to the plan which I 
had laid down, I direded my courfe towards 
Hottentot Holland | and I flopped about even- 
ing at the bottom of thofe mountains by which 
it is bounded on the eaft fide of the Cape. 
Being then entirely abandoned to myfelf, 
and expeding no fupport or afTiflance but 
from my own arm, I returned, as I may fay, 
to the primitive ftate of man ; and breathed, 
for the firft time in my life, the delicious and 
pure air of liberty. 
I was now obliged to fubjedl: my operations, 
as 
