1812. 
FURTHER ATTEMPTS AT DISSUASION. 
533 
furnish three pack-oxen, and to supply me, for my own use, with a 
quiet riding-ox and one that could be easily managed, as I was 
completely a novice in the art of riding on ox-back. He was also to 
brmg with him a Bushman whom he had retained several years in 
his service, and who would be found very useful for driving the 
loaded oxen. He was one of that class which they called Mcikke Bosch- 
jesman (Tame Bushman) ; by which denomination are distinguished 
such of that race as have either been brought up among the colo- 
nists, or are living habitually on good terms with them. The people 
of this settlement, therefore, apply the name to all those Bushmen 
who are under similar circumstances, as respects themselves. 
I was now reaping the advantage of the character which 1 had 
gained among them *, of being able to find out the true bearing of 
distant places ; for, although there was not an individual at Klaar- 
Water who was able even to attempt a guess at the direction of Graaff- 
reynet, or had been aware that it lay in the quarter which I pointed 
out, yet my own men, and all those whom I hired on this occasion, 
placed entire confidence in my guidance, and never once expressed 
the least doubt of my being acquainted with the proper direction. 
After church, when I paid my usual visit to the missionaries, my 
patience was a little exercised in listening to the medley of contra- 
dictory argument with which they endeavoured to deter me from the 
attempt and convince me that, should I escape being murdered by 
the Bushmen, I should still find myself unable to bear the hardships 
and fatigue of such a mode of travelling, and should never succeed 
in any part of my plan. One even thought I ought to be careful 
how I enticed the men away, by representing the affair in a less 
difficult and dangerous light than it really was, and intimated that, 
when I had got myself and my people into danger, I might not feel 
so courageous as I expected. And, that no stone might be left 
unturned in search for some bugbear, he did not hesitate to give 
the Klaarwater people the character of being a set of men on whose 
* See pages 302 ond 467. 
