September.] SEPARATION FROM MR. READ, &c. 3^9 
settle various accompts which we could not ob- 
tain leisure in the town to arrange. 
Next day being intensely hot, (therm. 88,) we 
could not proceed till three p. m., when after 
taking leave of Mr. Maintjes, and of each other, 
we proceeded on our different routes. 
For the first time since I had been in Africa, 
I was now unaccompanied by any person who 
could speak a word of English, my own know- 
ledge of the Dutch language was very imperfect, 
a five or six weeks' journey lay before me, and 
the road to Beaufort was equally unknown to 
us all, not having been able to procure a guide 
at Graaf Reynet. I felt more than I antici- 
pated at parting from the Hottentots, who had 
accompanied me on the most perilous parts of my 
journey, and whose faces I had constantly been 
accustomed to see for the last five months. I 
felt much attached to these simple-hearted and 
faithful creatures, from whom I was now separated 
without the prospect of again meeting in this 
world. 
Our company being so reduced in number, for 
some time caused an evident depression on all 
our spirits. At half past five p. m. we crossed 
the Black River, and halted near a farmer s at 
seven p. m. 
