1812. 
LETTER TO MR. HESSE. 
511 
' the heat of the weather ; together with more than the half of the 
' meat. Here I had an opportunity of making some observations 
' on the wild Bushmen ; and really, what I saw has considerably 
' cleared my ideas respecting human nature in an uncivilized state. 
' In the light in which I view every thing that presents itself to me, 
' I have derived the greatest gratification from this beginning of my 
' journey. What pleasure, therefore, may I not promise myself, in 
* proceeding to examine and study those tribes and nations which lie 
' more northward ! I feel, indeed, that my means and abilities are 
' not competent to so great a task ; yet I shall certainly make the 
' attempt : although, from the state in which affairs are at pre- 
' sent, (having only two effective men), I do not consider it very 
' probable that I shall accomplish the task I had assigned to myself ; 
' that of exploring the country as far as Benguela, or St. Paul de 
' Loando. The chief obstacle to this is the want of men ; for since 
' the two that Dr. Cowan took with him from here, are not returned, 
' there is not one individual who will venture on a similar journey ; 
' and, though I have been making incessant enquiries for men, none 
' offered themselves till I assured them that I was not going on 
' such an expedition as the late one, but would travel no farther 
' than I found it safe ; upon which two have agreed to accompany 
' me. One was persuaded by Speelman, who is his cousin : and if 
* I cannot procure more men at any other rate, I must give up the 
' idea of proceeding so far, unless I can hereafter, by promising some 
* great reward, induce them to go forward. Thus there is a proba- 
' bility of my having the pleasure of seeing you, and my Cape 
' friends, once more. I do not believe any one has witnessed much 
' idleness in me since I left Cape Town ; and it is not without 
' inconceivable labor that my collections in Natural History have 
' been made, and are daily increasing. They at this time amount to"* 
' 163 birds of 29 different genera ; about 400 insects ; a few small 
' quadrupeds, not having at present room in my waggons for the 
' larger skins; about 1,000 species of plants; with mineralogical 
' specimens, &c. ; and 110 drawings of a variety of subjects. I have 
' not been fortunate in the botanical part, as the weather has been 
