SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
167 
the landroft with their propofal of twenty men, till at length it 
was found neceffary to filence the application by faying, that if 
they had any apprehenfions as to their perfonal fafety they 
were at full liberty to return to Graaff Reynet. Though no- 
thing more was faid on the fubje<Cl;, there was reafon to fuppofe 
that the people had affembled for the purpofe of accompanying 
us. To a Dutch peafant a jaunt from home, on a hunting 
party, or to fee new parts of the country, is fupreme felicity : 
but an opportunity of getting into the Kaffer country, fo rich 
in cattle, was not to be refifted. Some of the farmers it was 
abfolutely necefTary to take along with us, as none of our own 
party were acquainted with a fmgle ftep of the country. Thofe 
that feemed to be the moft proper for this purpofe were, an old 
man from Upper Zuure Veldt, and Renfburg, one of the compa- 
nions of Jacob Van Reenen on the journey along the eaftern 
coaft in fearch of the unfortunate paifengers and crew of the 
Grofvenor that was wrecked on the fhore of the Hamboonas. 
This at leaft was the oftenfible motive for that journey. 
Renfburg was on many accounts a defirable companion on 
the prefent occafion. He was well acquainted with the coun- 
try : he was an excellent markfman ; and he had with him an 
old Hottentot that was ftill better : from this man he generally 
reckoned upon a beaft for every ball. Two or three others 
joined us in the evening at the place of encampment, under 
pretence of looking after their oxen with wliich they had fur- 
nifhed us ; and the firft night that we pafled in Kaffer-land, the 
number of peafants, that had contrived to fmuggle themfelves 
into that country, amounted to ten. 
We 
