284 
WALK FROM BILLY. 
in the verandah. Mr Van Deventer had come 
on shore to seek me, and report to his wife if I 
was near enough to be visited. The steamer 
stayed only a few hours. These I spent with 
them in a visit to the Da Franca family, and 
when they were gone I turned to my letters. 
My friends at the palace said I looked ill, and 
must remain overnight. I was really unfit to 
return, and yielded to their persuasions, on con- 
dition that I might set off ere they were up next 
morning, for I daily expected the return of some 
men from the interior, bringing plants to me, and 
to bear the remainder of the goods to H. With 
two trusty guides as protectors, I commenced 
the ascent early next morning. The pony which 
had been provided for me I sent back at Lahany, 
for I really prefer walking to the perilous seat in 
an unsafe saddle with an untrained pony. 
The sun's slanting rays were distressingly 
strong among the sparse trees of the heights, 
and 1 was ready for the shelter of the hut ere I 
turned to brush through the long grass of the 
side-path leading to it. I was sustaining my 
fainting steps by the thought of coming rest and 
quiet, when a very babel of voices greeted my 
ears, and through the branches I could get peeps 
of what seemed a crowd of people. This turned 
