1811. 
AN ACCIDENT REPAIRED. 
433 
three waggons at outspan, two of which were Captain Kok's, carry- 
ing home the produce of his hunting, but had been detained at this 
spot a whole day, by the breaking down of one of the wheels. The 
other proved to be that which had been sent for, and on its way to 
Speelman had halted to deliver a wheel brought for the broken-down 
vvaggon. Hans Lucas was accompanying it ; and, expecting to find 
me at the river, Mr. Jansz, judging that tea and bread would be 
very acceptable, had kindly sent some by him, together with the 
indispensable article of a tea-kettle. Nothing is more refreshing 
than tea, after a day's travelling in this hot climate ; and, I confess 
that, for myself, I always found it at such times preferable to every 
thing else. 
Old Lucas, or as he was more familiarly called, Oom Hans 
(Uncle Hans), now turned back with us, and I promised them all 
a treat of their favorite beverage at the next water we came to. It 
was not long before a turn of the river approaching close to our 
road, presented for the purpose a delightful spot, where some um- 
brageous trees offered protection from the burning rays of the sun. 
After resting an hour and a half, till the violent heat of the 
day had a little passed by, we continued our journey ; but one of 
the waggons, which was in a most decrepit state, soon broke down 
again, and Hans remained behind to help to patch it together. We 
had not proceeded far by ourselves, when it fell to the turn of 
my waggon also to get out of order. Suddenly the staple to which 
the trecktouw, or drag-rope, was fastened, broke, and the whole team, 
excepting the hinder pair, marched on without us, till the boy 
could overtake and turn them back. With thongs of hide, we made 
a good substitute for the staple, and once more set forward, quick- 
ening our pace, that we might reach head-quarters before dark. 
Our view over the country was frequently confined by hills and 
bushes ; and to save ourselves the trouble of considering what course 
we were to take, we followed the' track made by the waggon which 
we had just passed on its way to Speelman, and unfortunately 
depended for guidance entirely on these marks. At a quarter 
before seven, when twilight began to close, the leader found 
3 K 
