use. He said
that all could be arranged very easily; that clothes for temporary
purposes could be procured, ready made; and that he would see to
everything in that way, I thanked Mr Rossmar for his kindness, and
having bid good-bye to the captain and officers of the ship, I stepped
into the boat and soon landed at Simon's Town.

Having been provided with a stock of clothes at a warehouse, Mr Rossmar
drove me in his carriage to the admiral's, where I stopped for a short
time, and then started for Wynberg.

There are few more beautiful places in the world than Wynberg. Situated
in the lower slopes on the east of Table Mountain it is protected from
the south-east and north-west gales. The vegetation is luxuriant,
tropical trees and fruits growing in abundance, as also those common in
England. The houses are excellent and roomy, and the gardens gay with
flowers. The merchants at Cape Town, when well to do, usually have a
house at or near Wynberg, and Mr Rossmar, as I afterwards learnt, was
one of the richest men in this colony.

On arriving at Mr Rossmar's house I saw several ladies at the window,
and was introduced by Mr Rossmar to his wife and four daughters.
Although I felt quite at my ease when talking to the admiral, yet I was
awkward when the young ladies talked to me. Mr Rossmar told them that
all which had been printed in the paper about the shipwreck and my
adventures was true, and that I was quite a hero of adventure.

It was not long before I overcame my diffidence, and was soon talking to
Mrs Rossmar and her daughters as if I had known them all my life. They
were much interested in the account I gave them of my life among the
Caffres, and when I told them the details of my fight with the Bushmen
and Zulus, they became most excited. To me the change from the wild
rough life I had led was like coming to fairyland. The house was
beautifully furnished; there were several horses in the stable, and
having learned to ride in India, I soon was able to manage the most
spirited horse, and used to ride every evening with the ladies. They
were all excellent musicians, and this to me was a new experience, for
in India we had very little music in olden times, and as a boy I heard
nothing of even that little.

The story of my escape from shipwreck and my life among the tribes up
the country was known and talked about all over the Cape. Many people
there, although long resident at the Cape, knew little or nothin