50 
DR. COWAN'S EXPEDITION. 
29—31 Jan. 
populous countries. Of the intermediate parts and their inhabitants, 
beyond Litakun, nothing was known. All this determined me 
to avoid the western coasty although that would have been the 
shortest way, and to adopt a route which should conduct me through 
the heart of the continent, Litakun, then, was one point to which I 
resolved to direct my course ; and that I might see as much of the 
Cape Colony as was conveniently possible, I proposed to make Plet- 
tenberg's Bay, Algoa Bay, and Graaff Reynet, in my road : having, at 
the same time, in view, as a desirable object, the investigation of that 
unexplored and unknown tract of country, lying between Graaff 
Reynet and Litakun ; for, according to the supposed position of these 
places, Klaarwater would not lie in that track, 
I continued thus gleaning information from every quarter within 
my reach, and familiarising myself with the subject ; nor did I, on 
this account, much regret being obliged to delay the commencement 
of the journey. The extent of my plan was known to but few of my 
friends : several reasons induced me to keep it secret j of which, one 
was the difficulty, and, perhaps, impossibility, which would be found 
in persuading Hottentots to enter into my service, declaredly for the 
purpose of going farther into the interior than had been before 
attempted. 
This reluctance to venture far beyond the boundaries of the 
colony, was occasioned chiefly by the total failure of an expedition 
sent out by the Governor, under Z)r. Cozi^an and Captain Donovan, 
two gentlemen belonging to the Cape garrison. Their party con- 
sisted of a Dutch colonist, named Jacob Krieger ; two Englishmen, 
private soldiers in the garrison ; and about fifteen Hottentots, with 
four waggons, &c. Their instructions were, to make the best of their 
way to the Portuguese settlement of Mozambique, on the eastern 
coast. They departed from Cape Town in September, 1808, and on 
the 24th of the following December, had reached the river Molappo ; 
since which time, no tidings whatever had been heard of them, and 
it was generally believed that all must have perished. * 
* And even at this time, (1821,) nothing certain is known respecting the fate of any 
one of the paTty. 
