14 
DISTRESS OF THE MATCHAPPEES. [1820. 
selves either in the luggage-waggon, under trees, 
or in old Tammaha huts. At six p.m., the wind 
veering about from the N. E. to the S. and S.W., 
the rain gradually ceased, but the ground being 
composed of red clay, the cessation of the rain 
did not relieve us from the surrounding water. At 
seven p. m. Munameets came almost creeping to 
the tent, greatly dejected, and sat down without 
uttering a single word. At length he expressed 
a wish that he might again reach home, and was 
sure his wife and married daughter were weeping 
for him. These people cannot endure a reverse 
of fortune. Considering we had been travelling 
in winter, the weather on the whole had been 
favourable, this being only the fourth interruption 
by rain during six weeks. Their recollection of 
misfortunes, however, is slight and transient, for 
should the next day be favorable, and a knoo, 
quacha, or rhinoceros be shot, the rain would 
be as completely forgotten as the most trifling 
event of the last century. They neither reflect 
on the past nor look forward to the future, but 
are only affected by the occurrences of the 
moment. The Hottentots submitted to their si- 
tuation without grumbling. The horses were not 
found at sunset, many trees growing over the 
plain prevented their being seen from a distance* 
Therm, at noon 55. 
Pelangye, who also sold and bartered his rhi- 
