504 
JOURNEY ACROSS THE 
[1813. 
used for some days was no purer than the thickest 
soap suds, but what we had now to use was still 
thicker. 
;Our two Hottentots who belonged to the Zak River 
mission, mentioned another conjecture as to the reason 
why our bushman George had so suddenly decamped. 
Tlie bushmen in that part of the country from whence 
he came, are always at variance with those who dwell 
in the mountains where he left us, and often steal 
from them. Of course when he saw us alter our 
direction, by striking up to these mountains, in con- 
sequence of the signal from our men that they had 
shot an elk, from a dread that we might visit some 
kraals there, he embraced a favourable opportunity 
to leave us. 
30th. In the morning, at sun-rise, the Thermometer 
was 34, and ice about the thickness of a dollar was 
on the pools. Many wild cotton trees surrounded us. 
After Mr. Read had preached, seven of us united 
together in the Lord's Supper : viz. Mr. Read, who 
is pastor of the church at Bethelsdorp ; Cupido, who 
is a deacon ; four Hottentot members, and myself. 
We continued to observe this ordinance during the 
remainder of our journey on the first day of the week, 
and no doubt that was the first time it had ever been 
celebrated in that part of Africa. Understanding that 
we should find no more water that could be used, till 
we should reach the Great River, between forty and 
fifty miles distant, we went forward a few miles in the 
