AFRICA. I2J 
him happy ; and I congratulated myfelf for 
having at length been able, in fome meafure, 
to requite a man, to whom my people and I 
were indebted for our lives. 
The next day, agreeable to his promife, 
Van der Wefthuyfen lent me the teams 
that were neceflary for my waggons. In the 
morning we fet off. He and his family 
mounted another waggon, and accompanied 
us J for we had all engaged to pafs the night 
at Engelbrecht's. His eldeft fon, as a mark 
of refpe£l, would drive my waggon himfelf. 
Such is the cuftom among the planters : it is 
their mode of honouring a perfon, and is one 
of the greateft teftimonies of regard they can 
pay : for the fame reafon it^ was impoffible^for 
me to refufe this honour without affronting 
him. But he had fcarcely feated himfelf 
before he put the oxen on a gallop, and drove 
at full fpeed. This is another of the general 
prejudices of the country. On fuch occafions^ 
the guide thinks it incumbent on him to dif- 
play his talents by driving as furioufly as pof- 
fible : he would fooncr kilt his beafts than not 
thus manifeft his prowefs. In vain did I en- 
treat him to moderate his pace. The roads 
were 
