Travels in South Africa, Undertaken at the Request of the London Missionary Society (Volume 2); Being a Narrative of a Second Journey in the Interior

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1822. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... DUPLICITY OF PELANGYE -- PARTING WITH MAKOON-- DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY, AND STATE OF THE BUSHMEN -- STRAYING OF THE OXEN -- CUSTOMS OF THE BUSHMEN-- FURTHER INCIDENTS ON THE JOURNEY, &c. sunrise we began to prepare for our departure. Pelangye, who could flatter like a courtier, was overheard telling Makoon that he was the only honest Bushman he knew; that .the others were rogues; that all the cattle belonging to the Matchappees, Griquas and Corannas might be said to be his, because he protected them from the thieving Bushmen; that this, was a situation of great honour; all trusted to him for the safety of their cattle, and he was sure Makoon would do all in his power to prevent Bushmen commandoes from taking the cattle. Only the preceding day, Pelangye had expressed his wonder that we should go out of our way to see that rogue Makoon. 36 THE BUSHMAN COUNTRY. [1820. After assuring Makoon that I would endeavour still to obtain an instructor for him and his people, and having bid farewel to him and his brother, we departed at nine A.m. We travelled down Malapeetzee valley to the south for an hour, and then turned to the westward through a narrow pass, with the intention of crossing the Matchappee Bushman country, lying between the Malalareen and Lattakoo. What appeared to me very remarkable was, to find Makoon, who had lived all his days within a few miles of the east side of this track of land, and Munameets, Pelangye, and all the other Matchappees in our train, who from their infancy had occupied the west side, as ignorant of it as of Japan. They believed it was a great plain, but whether it contained any water, none of them had heard. The late rains encouraged us to expect that this most necessary element in an African climate would not be wanting, and we hop...