May.] absence OF TWO HOTTENTOTS. 211 
willingly forward without expressing any farther 
doubt about coming to water ; which indeed we 
found in about an hour, viz. at five p.m., and re- 
mained there for the night. A lie, as I have 
before observed, is esteemed as nothing, if thereby 
they can gain their point. 
Some ravens hovered above us during the 
whole stage, smelling the meat with which a 
part of the oxen were loaded. We were in sight 
of a long range of hills, running from west to 
east ; and over them we were told it was neces- 
sary to go before we could reach the Marootzee 
country. 
Two of our Hottentots, who had been search- 
ing for game, did not return before it was dark, 
which made us feel rather anxious for their safety. 
Whips were smacked in every direction, the sound 
of which could be heard two miles off; a musket 
also was fired to let them know where we were ; 
but there was no appearance of them till nine 
p. M., when they arrived with the horses. They 
spoke not a word, nor was a question asked by 
their companions till about two minutes after 
they had taken their seats by the fire, when they 
were asked where they had been. This apparent 
indifference is the Hottentot fashion, and it is 
only a fashion; for both parties are alike anxious, 
the one to tell and the other to hear. The Hot- 
p 2 
