94 
THE LAST AND LONGEST JOURNEY. 
Chap. V. 
CHAPTEE Y. 
Start in June, 1852, on the last and longest journey from Cape Town— 
Companions—Waggon-travelling — Physical divisions of Africa — The 
eastern, central, and western zones — The Kalahari Desert — Its vegetation 
— Increasing value of the interior for colonization — Our route—Dutch 
boers — Their habits — Sterile appearance of the district — Failure of 
grass — Succeeded by other plants—Vines — Animals — AVant of the 
horse—The horse-sickness — Its effects on wild animalsThe boers 
as farmers — Migration of springbucks — Wariness of animals — The 
Orange river — Territory of the Griquas and Bechuanas—The Gri- 
quas — The chief Waterboer — His wise and energetic government — 
His fidelity — Ill-considered measures of the colonial government in re¬ 
gard to supplies of gunpowder — Success of the missionaries among the 
Griquas and Bechuanas — Manifest improvement of the native character-— 
Dress of the natives — A full-dress costume — A native’s description of 
the natives—Articles of commerce in the country of the Bechuanas — 
Their unwillingness to learn, and readiness to criticise. 
Having sent my family liome to England, I started, in tlie 
beginning of June 1852, on my last journey from Cape Tovm. 
Tills jommey extended from tbe soutliern extremity of tlie conti¬ 
nent to St. Paul de Loando, the capital of Angola, on the west 
coast, and thence across South Central Africa in an oblique 
dkection to Kilimane (Quilimane) in Eastern Africa. I proceeded 
in the usual conveyance of the country, the heavy lumbering 
Cape waggon drawn by ten oxen, and was accompanied by two 
Christian Bechuanas from Kuruman,—than whom I never saw 
better servants anywhere,—by two Bakwain men, and two young 
guds, who, having come as nurses with our children to the Cape, 
were returnmg to then* home at Eolobeng. Waggon-travelling 
in Africa has been so often described, that I need say no more 
than that it is a prolonged system of picnicldng, excellent for the 
health, and agreeable to those who are not over fastidious about 
trifles, and who dehght in being in the open au\ 
Our route to the north lay near the centre of the cone-shaped 
mass of land wliich constitutes the promontory of the Cape. If we 
suppose tills cone to be divided into tlmee zones or longitudinal 
bands, we find each presenting distinct peculiarities of climate. 
