4 o 
A VOYAGE TO 
t 1776. They pretended a want of flour; but the truth was, they 
were doubtful of her coming, and did not care to begin 
till they faw her at anchor in the bay. 
I have before made mention of our getting our cattle on 
Ihore. The bull and two cows, with their calves, were fent 
to graze along with fome other cattle; but I was advifed to 
keep our fheep, flxteen in number, clofe to our tents, where 
they were penned up every night. During the night pre- 
Thurfday 14. ceding the 14th, fome dogs having got in amongft them, 
forced them out of the pen, killing four, and difperflng the 
rell. Six of them were recovered the next day ; but the two 
rams, and two of the fineft ewes in the whole flock, were 
amongft thofe miffing.' Baron Plettenberg being now in the 
country, I applied to the Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Hemmv, 
and to the Fifcal. Both thefe Gentlemen promifed to ufe 
their endeavours for the recovery of the loft fheep. The 
Dutch, we know, boaft that the police at the Cape is fo 
carefully executed, that it is hardly poffible for a flave, with 
all his cunning and knowledge of the country, to effectuate 
his efcape. Yet my fheep evaded all the vigilance of the 
Fifcal’s officers and people. However, after much trouble 
and expence, by employing fome of the meaneft and loweft 
fcoundrels in the place (who, to ufe the phrafe of the per- 
fon who recommended this method to me, would, for a 
ducatoon, cut tlieir mailer’s throat, burn the houfe over his 
head, and bury him and the whole family in the allies), I 
recovered them all but the two ewes. Of thefe I never 
could hear the leaft tidings; and I gave over all inquiry af¬ 
ter them, when I was told that, ftnce I had got the two 
rams, I might think myfelf very well off. One of thefe, 
however, was fo much hurt by the dogs, that there was 
reafon to believe he would never recover. 
' Mr. 
