1811. 
CHRISTMAS-DAY. 
495 
But another circumstance concurs to induce them to defer the attack 
till that late hour of the night ; they are careful to avoid approach- 
ing, during the day-light, so near as to run any risk of being ob- 
served ; but in most cases halt at the distance of a night's journey ; 
and as soon as evening comes on, advance with great rapidity, so 
calculating their time that they may arrive at the place of attack 
just before the commencement of the morning twilight. 
I considered every piece of information of this sort, as part of 
the lesson I had to learn, before I could be qualified for conducting my 
little party safely through all the dangers and treachery of the various 
tribes through which I expected I should have to make my way. 
My protracted stay at Klaarwater was not to be regarded as time 
lost, as it gave an opportunity of acquiring a species of knowledge, 
which was of essential necessity in my dealings with the natives ; 
and without which, to have ventured amongst them alone, and de- 
fenceless as I was, would certainly not have been a proof of wisdom. 
I9th. During the preceding night, a heavy rain had fallen, and 
the country this morning no longer exhibited that arid colorless ap- 
pearance which, for several months past, had almost persuaded me 
to believe that it could never be visited by verdure. The moistened 
earth looked now as if vegetation were every where possible, al- 
though its bare surface presented nothing but scattered bushes, 
almost dried up. 
25th. The day of the month is the only circumstance which, in 
these far-distant wilds, can remind the traveller of that season which 
the customs of Europe dedicate more especially to conviviality and 
social enjoyment ; among those, at least, who preserve a respect for 
ancient usages. Here the fur-clad skaiter, rapidly circling round in 
graceful sweeps, is never seen. Over these hills and plains, no thick 
snowy mantle of dazzling white, spreading a new beauty over the 
leafless landscape, conceals the herbage, or clothes the bending 
bush ; here no unrelenting frost locks up the soil, and denies en- 
trance to the plough or spade. Here, in these unknown solitary 
regions, no fog descends to hide the mountain, or each neighbouring- 
hut or tree, while the peasant doubtful wanders over the moor. No 
