Chap. IV. 
KETUKN TO THE CAPE. 
93 
month of a Caffre war; and if those who periodically pay enormous 
sums for these mglorious affairs wish to know how our Httle 
unprotected party could quietly travel through the heart of the 
colony to the capital, with as little sense or sign of danger as if 
we had been in England, they must engage a “ Times Special 
Correspondent” for the next outbreak to explain where the 
money goes, and who have been benefited by the blood and 
treasure expended. 
Having placed my family on board a homeward-bound ship 
and promised to rejoin them in two years, we parted, for, as it 
subsequently proved, nearly five years. The Directors of the 
London Missionary Society signified their cordial approval of my 
project, by leaving the matter entuely to my own discretion; 
and I have much pleasure in acknowledging my obligations 
to the gentlemen composing that body for always acting in an 
enlightened spuit, and with as much liberality as their constitu¬ 
tion would allow. 
I have the like pleasure in confessing my thankfulness to 
the Astronomer Eoyal at the Cape, Thomas Maclear, Esq., for 
enabling me to recaU the little astronomical knowledge which 
constant manual labour and the engrossing nature of missionary 
duties had effaced from my memory, and in adding much that I 
did not know before. The promise he made on parting, that he 
would examine and correct aU my observations, had more effect 
in making me persevere in overcoming the difficulties of an 
unassisted solitary observer, than anytliing else; so whatever 
credit may be attached to the geographical positions laid down 
in my route, must be attributed to the voluntary aid of the 
excellent and laborious astronomer of the Cape observatory. 
Having given the reader as rapid a sketch as possible of events 
winch attracted notice between 1840 and 1852, I now proceed 
to narrate the incidents of the last and longest journey of all, 
performed in 1852-6. 
