READY FOR A START. 
167 
all other respects unexceptionable. I have now only 
four horses left. 
Breakfasted on a buttered ostrich egg this morn¬ 
ing : it was excellent, but five of us could not quite 
manage it. Traded half a dozen large leather 
sacks from the Maccateese for beads, very cheap ; 
they will hold two muids apiece, and are beau¬ 
tifully braided and sewn. I am very anxious to 
be off; I have shot next to nothing here, for the 
best of all reasons — there is nothing, except a 
small troop of impala, very shy. I got one — a 
200 yards shot at least. One wagon we have been 
painting up to sell to Mosilikatse, and have taken 
extra pains. It comprises nearly all the gaudy 
colours of the rainbow : whether Dutch taste, or 
in order to take the eye of the savage, I know not. 
I wrote a long letter home a week ago, which 
will not go, however, for probably two months, if it 
ever reaches its destination. There is no post, and 
no opportunity of sending to any post town. They 
are at least a century behind the rest of the civilised 
world here, but appear to live very happily and 
contented. 
lOtfA. — Still here, but we have got all ready for 
a start on Monday, the 14th. The baby is dead 
and buried. Jack nearly frightened his purchaser 
to death, and he returned him, which I am not 
sorry for. Swartz bought eleven goats and sheep 
from the Maccateese, and, having no one to herd 
them, they made back ; and yesterday the Kaffirs 
