AFRICA, 331 
procure for him one of thefe animals, which 
are highly efteemed by the planters for their 
ftrength and beauty. It is true, this coft mc 
as much as four oxen : yet had more been de- 
manded, I would have given it with pleafure 
for my refpedable and afFedionate friend. 
I was apprehenfive, that the cattle I had 
purchafed might return to the herd, and that, 
mixing with the reft, I might lofe them. To 
obviate this, and be able to know them again, 
I marked them on the thigh with a hot iron. 
On the other hand, it w^ould give me fome 
trouble to take them with me ; and I would 
therefore gladly have fent them immediately to 
Swanepoel, without waiting till I returned to 
my camp. 
The chief of the horde, it Is true, offered to 
fend them thither by fome of his people, for 
whofe fidelity he would be anfwerable. But 
this offer might be a fnare, and a certain mode 
of regaining what I had purchafed. However, 
my Caminouquas having affured me, that I 
had nothing to fear, and that a bargain made 
was facred among all the hordes, I accepted 
his offer ; and, after having direfted the drivers 
what road to tak^, and paid them before-hand, 
I faw 
