Page:Lake Ngami.djvu/346

338 The last of my servants, also a Hottentot and a wagon-driver, known as "old Piet," was, however, a most excellent and well-behaved man. He had been, it is true, in the habit of getting drunk, but, once out of the Cape, he proved himself a hard-working, honest, and faithful fellow, and has never since left my service.

Finding that a Mr. Reid, whose acquaintance I had made in Great Namaqua-land, and who had been very kind and attentive to me when I was laid up by fever, was about to undertake a trading excursion to Walfisch Bay, I gladly availed myself of the opportunity thus afforded of dividing between us the expenses of a vessel; a considerable sum was accordingly saved to me.

At last, after many difficulties and delays, we were ready; and on the sixteenth of January, having embarked in the schooner Flying Fish, we unfurled our sails and bade farewell to Cape-Town, where, during a second stay, I enjoyed much kindness and hospitality.