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LETTERS TO ENGLAND. 
14- Jan. 
care of a stronger party. In a former year, when they preferred run- 
ning the risk of keeping them at the village in the Asbestos moun- 
tains, out of eighty horses, there died of this distemper not fewer 
than seventy. 
14/^. So favorable an opportunity for sending letters to my 
friends in Cape Town and England, was not allowed to pass unheeded; 
but the pleasure of so delightful a task, was considerably diminished 
by not having it in my power to inform them, at the same time, 
that every thing here succeeded equal to my expectations. For 
I now began clearly to foresee some part of the difficulties in obtain- 
ing men for the journey. These difficulties I could not refrain 
from expressing ; although, at that time, little aware of the turn they 
were soon afterwards to give to all my movements. 
My situation and sentiments, at this time, are best expressed 
in the words of my letters^ which, though written in haste, are 
preferable, as being penned under the impression of present 
circumstances. To my esteemed friend, Mr. Hesse, I wrote, 
' My dear friend, — An opportunity now suddenly presents 
' itself, for sending a letter to Cape Town, by some men 
' who are going on horseback as far as the Roggeveld ; and 
' although I mean to reserve my principal and final communication 
' till Mr. Jansz goes, which will be in about March or April, yet I 
' cannot lose this opportunity of letting you know that I am in very 
' good health, and have found the journey pleasant and not too 
' fatiguing, though very laborious in the scientific part of it, as so 
' much new work every day claims my attention. We arrived at this 
' place, (Mr. A., &c. on the 20th of September, and I on the 30th,) 
' without any other unpleasant occurrence than the want of water 
' between the Karreebergen and the Orange river (Gariep) and the 
' loss of two of my oxen, strayed away in the night. Since I have 
' been at Klaarwater, I have made a month's excursion, accompanied 
' by Mr. Jansz, to explore the Zwart, the Vaal, and Modder rivers, 
' three large branches of the Orange river ; where my party shot two 
' Hippopotami. The tongue of one of them is preserved for you, 
' but the other, intended for our friend Polemann, was spoiled by 
