4 
CAPE MOUNTED KIFLES. 
all. The hardy English tar who had caused such ex- 
citement, actually assisted in rowing the boat back to 
the ship. We, of course, had our storm off the Cape 
— a midnight scene ; and though we had four boats 
washed away, our mainyard sprung, and water rush- 
ing wildly through our cabins, the noble ship bore the 
strain most gallantly, anchoring the following day, 4th 
July, in Simon's Bay. 
Sir George Grey, the Governor of the Cape, whom 
the Forte was conveying to his seat of government, 
was a true friend to oar expedition, and evinced the 
deepest interest in its progress. By his influence 
we obtained -a grant of £300 from the Cape Par- 
liament to supply us with a dozen baggage - mules. 
Two honourable members, who formed the minority, 
when the question was put, sagely remarked that 
" It was nothing to them where the source of the Nile 
was ; every one knew it was south of the equator ; " — 
not a bad guess ! In the Governor's body-guard, when 
he called for volunteers to cross Africa, there was not 
even this minority — not a dissentient voice was heard ; 
all wished to go, and we selected ten — a corporal and 
nine privates of the Cape Mounted Bines. When 
paraded for our inspection, they reminded me of the 
Goorkas of India. On the 16th July two teams of 
beautiful bays pulled up at the Admiral's house, 
Simon's Bay, where we then were, conveying these ten 
volunteers, who sat in the open four-wheeled vans 
looking very smart with their red caps, much to the 
envy of some Forte marines, who would have liked to 
go with us. 
The embarking of the unmanageable mules was 
kindly effected by Mr Wilkinson of the Forte ; and hav- 
