tjo TRAVELS IN 
be more pleafing than that which he then led, 
the fear which continually haunted him ex- 
cepted, and no ftate of freedom more com- 
plete ; it is clear, from the ftep he afterwards 
took, that litde was wanting to draw him from 
it, and induce him again to involve himfelf in 
the troubles of focial life. For. on my return 
to the Cape, having obtained his pardon, he 
was no fooner informed of it, than he returned 
with all his children, abandoning his huts, his 
wives, the fports of the field, and that entire 
liberty of adion, for which 1 would have bar- 
tered the richeft empires by wholefale. 
Being unable to read the Colonel's letter, he 
defired me to read it to him : which when I 
had done, he offered me every fervice in his 
power. Without informing me of his inten- 
tion, he ordered an ox and a few fheep to 
be killed and diftributed among my people. 
His wives, who were all Hottentots, and had 
hid themfelves at my approach, made their 
appearance one after another, and I gave them 
a few trifles as well as their children. I fay his 
wives, for he had many; and in this refpeft he 
made a free ufe of the independence arifing 
from his mode of life. Indeed his horde con- 
9 fifted 
