LOSS OF THE HERCULES. 73 
remained behind might find their way, he ordered the Caffire 
guides to set fire to the long grass, which served during the 
night as a point of direction. He was likewise in expectation 
of their coming up before morning, but was sadly disappoint- 
ed. They remained stationary until the sun appeared, and 
then went on. 
Not one of the people left behind appeared this morning ; 
but the guides were of opinion they would reach a Christian 
settlement in the course of the day, where assistance would 
certainly be had. This intelligence gave them new spirits ; 
and they traveled with an unusual alertness, until they came 
to a farm-house. Here relief was expected, but none was to 
be found : the whole place had been deserted for some time ; 
they were obliged, therefore, to sleep again in the air, and 
leave their absent and miserable companions to all the horrors 
of the desert. 
This was not a night of sleep, but lamentation. They sat 
round the fire, and spoke of nothing but their absent mess- 
mates, and their unfortunate situation. They were left de- 
fenceless, without food, hardly able to stand erect, and in a 
country where the ferocious animals were the most nume- 
rous. They were likewise every hour in danger of an attack 
from the Boshismen, who swarm in these parts, and destroy 
the unhappy objects of their vengeance by arrows that are 
poisoned. The sensibility of the people on this melancholy 
occasion displayed the genuine character of a sailor. Men 
who could brave all the dangers of the tempest, and face 
death without a trembling nerve, even in the cannon's mouth, 
could not, however, speak of their distressed and absent 
brethren without a tear. Their own misfortunes were forgot- 
ten, and their only consideration, during the night, was their 
unhappy mess-mates, whom they never expected to behold 
again. 
They remained here for napre than an hour after the rising 
of the sun. Out of sixty that composed the party when they 
departed from the beach, thirty-six were so maimed and 
vs'orn down by fatigue as to be unable to travel ; these re- 
mained ia the desert, if not altogether destroyed, and had no 
hope of preservation but by the exertions of the party who 
were able to proceed. The guides were now certain that a 
Christian habitation was at hand. The last we saw had been 
destroyed by the CafiVes during the war with the colonists. 
It was therefore determined to proceed to a place where re- 
lief could be obtained, with every possible despatch. My peo- 
7 
