AFRICA. 73 
from the impolitic adminiftration of the fron- 
tier parts of the colony, and the neceflity of 
appeafmg thofe hordes, continually harafied 
by the moft flagrant injuftice, the moft horrible 
inhumanity, which left behind it fo keen a re- 
fentment, and of the benefits that would flow 
from friendfliip and a good uuderflianding. 
I prevailed u; on Boers lo confent at leafl to 
make trial of this excurfion ; an<i I little 
doubted that, if I could once lure him into the 
country, he would fuffer me to guide hini fl:ep 
by flep wherever I pleafed, without fo much 
as noticing the difl:ance. His health, however^ 
requiring particular precautions, it was re- 
folved, while the preparations for this journey 
were making, that we fhould fpend a week at 
my good friend Slaber's, who was as dear tb 
Boers as he was to myfelf. Whether we de* 
parted from Swart-Land, or returned to the 
Cape, was of little importance ; our route could 
not fail to be known, as it would be that which 
I had already travelled, and from which I had 
returned fix months before ; and letters from 
Europe, therefore, might eafily be difpatched 
to us, in the fame manner as Boers had dif- 
patched mine to me while I fojourned in the 
country 
