512 
LETTER TO MR. HESSE. 
14 Jan. 
' constantly so dry that every thing is parched up, excepting the 
' shrubs and trees. I find, unless I should decide on proceeding 
' with pack-oxen only, that it is best to take both my waggons on 
' with me. I shall avoid saying much respecting my intended plans, 
* as experience teaches me that the execution of them depends 
' entirely on the unforeseen events which each ensuing day may 
' bring with it. What I propose to myself to perform may be very 
' different from that which circumstances may ultimately lead me 
* to : yet thus much I feel certain of, that should Providence allow 
' me to return safe, my journey will be productive of great increase 
' of knowledge to myself, and of the utmost gratification in furnish- 
^ ing my mind with matter for contemplation for the future part of my 
' life. As to its being of any benefit to society in general, I at pre- 
' sent give up that idea ; but should be happy indeed, should circum- 
* stances put it in the power of my individual labors, to add any 
' thing to the present stock of true knowledge ; but 1 fear I shall not 
* be able to penetrate far enough to ascertain those facts which I had 
^ supposed to exist. The chief obstacle, as I have already said, is 
^ the want of proper men, and the manifest reluctance of those I 
^ have with me, to trust themselves to unknown nations. I shall, 
^ however, journey onwards, till I shall have ascertained the truth of 
^ those difficulties I am told of, and which I suspect to be greatly 
^ exaggerated. My course, after leaving Letaako, will be northerly, 
' or north-westerly, as circumstances shall render most advisable. 
' Respecting the country to the N. E., I have obtained the same 
* encouraging account which the late travellers received ; but 
* respecting that to the N. and N. W., there seems to hang an 
' obscurity over it, which I wish to clear away : no one can give me 
' the least information in that quarter. Yet I shall always persist 
' in endeavouring to accomplish so much of my original plan, tliat 
* at a future period, 1, or some other person, may not find it a diffi- 
' cult undertaking to set out from St. Paul de Loando and join my 
' present route : by which a very large portion of the unknown part 
' of Southern Africa would be explored. And should I, after my 
* return to England, feel a desire to attempt this second journe) , the 
