ABSTRACT
THE path once more made clear before us, we were ready to proceed, when we were told that on account of the rains which had already fallen to the east of this place, the river had risen so considel~ably as to make it impossible for bullock wagons to cross. Tllere 'Velte now two courses before us; either to wait until the river should fall again, or to go up or down the south bank, until a boat or a lJont could be had to ferry us over. We adopted the latter plan, and proceeding up the river, ,ve wel~e comfortably taken to the other side, with our wagon and all at the same time, by Mr. Burgess, a young Scotchman, in his large pont. Some years after, this fine young man was blown up, together with his wagon, near the Lake Ngami, by an explosion of gunpowder. Being now, for the first time, beyond British territories, we naturally expected to witness some new scenes, although still in a
countl~ belonging to white men-the Free State.
About forty miles north of this point on the river, a scene presented itself to our view, which, in miniature, gave us an insight into the whole character of the interior tribes, especially that of the Amandebele,* among whom we had been appointed to labour. Crossing a stony hill, we suddenly stood alongside a village in the forest, of forty or fifty huts, out of which, in multitudes, rushed the swarthy inhabitants, many of them without clothing, while others had covered themselves with various kinds of prepared skins. Running from all directions towards the wagon, they soon surrounded it, gazing at everything, and especially anxious to see what was inside. When their cUl-iosity was satisfied, they sat down on the ground, not far from us however, but around and under the wagon, and here they remained, laughing, and keeping up a busy convel-sation, until our men began their morning meal. To this our new friends helped themselves without hesitation; and while to our servants this seemed pleasing, we thought that it would be neither profitable nor cOllvenient when the supply of food for the jourlley became short.
