ad come down with their wagons; but previous to making any
bargains, Alexander went with Captain Maxwell to the landroost, for whom
he had brought a letter from the governor.

This gentleman immediately joined the party, and through his
intervention, before night, four excellent wagons with their tilts and
canvas coverings, and four span of oxen of fourteen each, were bought
and promised to be brought down and delivered up in good order, as soon
as they had carried up the freights with which they were charged.

As these wagons could not return under four days, the next object that
they had in view was to procure some more horses, and here they met with
difficulty; for Major Henderson, who, as an excellent judge of horses,
was requested to select them, would not accept of many that were
offered. Still they had plenty of time, as the wagons would require
fitting out previous to their departure, and this would be a work of
some days; and many articles which they had decided to procure at Algoa
Bay, instead of the Cape, were now to be sought for and selected.

At the time appointed, the wagons and teams were delivered over and paid
for. Carpenters were then engaged, and the wagons were fitted out with
lockers all round them, divided off to contain the luggage separate, so
that they might be able to obtain in a minute any thing that they might
require. While this work was proceeding, with the assistance of the
landroost, they were engaging Hottentots and other people to join the
expedition, some as drivers to the wagons, others as huntsmen, and to
perform such duties as might be required of them. Some very steady brave
men were selected, but it was impossible to make up the whole force
which they wished to take of people of known character; many of them
were engaged rather from their appearance, their promises, and the
characters they obtained from others or gave themselves, than from any
positive knowledge of them. This could not be avoided; and as they had
it in their power to dismiss them for bad conduct, it was to be presumed
that they could procure others.

It was more than three weeks before every thing was ready for their
departure, and then the caravan was composed as follows:--

The persons who belonged to it were our three gentlemen; the servant of
Major Henderson; eight drivers of the teams of oxen; twelve Hottentot
and other hunters (for some of them were of a mixed race); two
Hottentots who had charge of the