AFRICA; 263 
raucti difcontent among my Hottentots. They 
received my confent with tranfports of joy 
that bordered upon delirium. For the mo- 
ment, neither the evils we had fufFered nor the 
greater ones which awaited us had a (hare in 
their thoughts : every thing was forgotten : 
the hope alone of an abundant fupply of blub- 
ber was fufEcient to conftitute the moft per- 
fed: happlnefs. 
So great was their eagernefs, that I was 
obliged to allow Jonker to fet off immediately 
with the two oxen and his detachment. I 
gave him afufee and ammunition; and he was 
faluted by the acclamations of my whole com- 
pany. Enviable mortals, who could be con- 
tented at fo fmall an expence, and whom a 
little oil was about to render fo wealthy and 
felicitous ! 
My ov*^n departure was lefs joyful; though 
I had ftrong reafons for quitting without re- 
gret the banks of a river which had been fo 
highly extolled to me, and which had proved 
by my refiding there fo difaftrpus to my cat- 
tle. But I was terrified at the profpeG before 
me, and I anticipated the misfortunes with 
which I was threatened. The fky was beau- 
S 4 tliul 
