The Mission

fortunes, had left their native land to settle in this country. Many had landed, but the greater proportion were still on board of the vess

each; the sun was bright and warm, and the scene was busy and

them so clearly that they might have fancied that there was a heaven beneath as well as above them. The land presented a dark opaque mass, the mountains in the distance appearing as if they were close to them, and rising precipitately from the shore. All was of one somber hue, except where the lights

s, so many causes for leaving their native land, and with so many different fortunes

y the same desire,-that of independence, and, if

ted them; new interests usurping the place of old ones; all novelty and adventure to look forward to; new scenes added to new hopes and new fears; but we

ed, to see if it were possible to obtain any roof under which they could shelter themselves; but the number of emigrants who had arrived put that out of the question, ever

ams of oxen; horses, sheep, and other animals, just landed; loud talking; busy inquirers; running to and fro of men; Hottentots busy with the gods, or smoking their pipes in idle survey; crates and boxes, and packages of all de

ed England, and who were bivouacking like so many gipsies, independent of lodgings and their attendant expenses, and cooking their own provisio

o you

ht from Cape Town; we must get them on s

son; "any thing better than remaining on board to be

n; "we have but to get our matt

to it. In India we almost live in tents when up the country

y officer who had been thus addressed; "why, what

e move; I am merely on my own way with my two friends here to shoot a hippopotamus. Allow m

t about a month back. Can

going on board for our tents, to pitch them o

tside the fort, on the glacis, you would be better than on the hill; your baggage would be

ccount of the baggage," replied Henderso

m out for you and assist in transporting your luggage; and don't distress yo

fellow. We will accept your offers as freely a

now get on well. Maxwell is an excellent fellow, and he will be very useful to us in making our p

" replied Mr. Swinton. "Where

igers together. How he would like to be of

ajor Henderson?" observed Wilmot; "it will n

llowance. No, no; we will find dinners, and he will

y quarters in the fort," replied Alexander

nued he to the other men, who were lounging about, and who all jumped i

g perched upon the stores conveyed in the last boat. A party of soldiers sent down by Captain Maxwell assisted the seamen to carry the various packages up to the fort, and before the evening closed in, the tents were pitched, t

Captain Maxwell to look after wagons and oxen, and as, on the arrival of the emigrants, a number of wagons had been sent down to take them to their destinations, Captain Maxwell soon fell in with some of the Dutch boors of th

th their tilts and canvas coverings, and four span of oxen of fourteen each, were bought and promised to be broug

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

ssistance 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 kn

thing was ready for their departure, and

ce); two Hottentots who had charge of the horses, and two others who had charge of a flock of Cape sheep, which were to follow the caravan, and serve as food until they could procure oxen by purch

as Major Henderson could only procure six at Algoa Bay, or they would have purchased more; thirteen dogs of va

ows, chiefly under the direction o

tongues, biscuits, soap, and wax candles, wine and spirits in bottles, besides large rolls of tobacco for the Hottentots or presents, and Alexander's clothes; his mattress lay at the bottom of

preserving them; a ream or two of paper for drying plants, and several other articles, more particularly a medicine-chest well filled, for Mr. Swinton was not unacquainted with surgery and physic. The other lockers were filled with a large quantit

sts, and four large casks of spirits, and the Major made up his bed on the top of the chests. In the chests were gunpowder in bottles and a quantity of sm

nded all the guns, except the two which Alexander and Mr. Swinton retained in their own wagons in case of emergency. The back and front of this wagon were closed with boards, which were let down and pulled up on hinges, so tha

: it also held most of the ammunition, having six casks of gunpowder, a quantity of lead, two coils of rope, iron bars, bags of nails of various sizes

it was called, were so great and so annoying that the utmost haste was made to quit the town. At last the wagons were all loaded, the Hottentots collected together

t, and passed the major part of the night with Captain Maxwell; but to avoid the crowd which would have accompanied them, and have impeded their progress, they had resolved to set off before daylight. At two o'clock in