e, Thomas Maclear, Esq., for enabling me to recall
the little astronomical knowledge which constant manual labor and the
engrossing nature of missionary duties had effaced from my memory,
and in adding much that I did not know before. The promise he made on
parting, that he would examine and correct all my observations, had
more effect in making me persevere in overcoming the difficulties of an
unassisted solitary observer than any thing else; so whatever credit may
be attached to the geographical positions laid down in my route must
be attributed to the voluntary aid of the excellent and laborious
astronomer of the Cape observatory.

Having given the reader as rapid a sketch as possible of events which
attracted notice between 1840 and 1852, I now proceed to narrate the
incidents of the last and longest journey of all, performed in 1852-6.

Chapter 5.

Start in June, 1852, on the last and longest Journey from Cape Town--
Companions--Wagon-traveling--Physical Divisions of Africa--The
Eastern, Central, and Western Zones--The Kalahari Desert--Its
Vegetation--Increasing Value of the Interior for Colonization--
Our Route--Dutch Boers--Their Habits--Sterile Appearance of
the District--Failure of Grass--Succeeded by other Plants--
Vines--Animals--The Boers as Farmers--Migration of Springbucks--
Wariness of Animals--The Orange River--Territory of the Griquas and
Bechuanas--The Griquas--The Chief Waterboer--His wise and energetic
Government--His Fidelity--Ill-considered Measures of the Colonial
Government in regard to Supplies of Gunpowder--Success of the
Missionaries among the Griquas and Bechuanas--Manifest Improvement of
the native Character--Dress of the Natives--A full-dress Costume--A
Native's Description of the Natives--Articles of Commerce in the
Country of the Bechuanas--Their Unwillingness to learn, and Readiness
to criticise.

Having sent my family home to England, I started in the beginning of
June, 1852, on my last journey from Cape Town. This journey extended
from the southern extremity of the continent to St. Paul de Loando, the
capital of Angola, on the west coast, and thence across South Central
Africa in an oblique direction to Kilimane (Quilimane) in Eastern
Africa. I proceeded in the usual conveyance of the country, the heavy,
lumbering Cape wagon drawn by ten oxen, and was accompanied by two
Christian Bechuanas from Kuruman--than whom I never saw better servants
any where--by two Bakwain men,