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After the first twenty…four hours or so he informed me with many moans
that the last bit of his inside had just come out of him； and that he
was now quite hollow 〃like a gourd。〃 Also he declared that all these
evils had fallen upon him because he had been fool enough to forsake the
religion of his people （what was that； I wonder）； and allow himself to
be 〃washed white；〃 that is； be baptised； by my father。
I answered that as he had become white instead of staying yellow； I
advised him to remain so； since it was evident that the Hottentot gods
would have nothing more to do with one who had deserted them。 Thereon
he made a dreadful face； which even in the midst of my own woes caused
me to laugh at him； uttered a prolonged groan； and became so silent that
I thought he must be dead。 However； the sailor who brought me my
foodsuch food！assured me that this was not so； and lashed him tight
to the legs of the bunk by his arm and ankle so as to prevent him from
being rolled to bits。
Next morning Hans was dosed with brandy； which； in his empty condition；
made him extremely drunk； and from that time forward began to take a
more cheerful view of things。 Especially was this so when the hours for
the 〃brandy medicine〃 came round。 Hans； like most other Hottentots；
loved spirits； and would put up with much to get them； even with my
father's fiery indignation。
I think it was on the fourth day that at length we pitched and rolled
ourselves over the shallow bar of Port Natal and found ourselves at
peace for a while under shelter of the Point in the beautiful bay upon
the shores of which the town of Durban now stands。 Then it was but a
miserable place； consisting of a few shanties which were afterwards
burnt by the Zulus； and a number of Kaffir huts。 For such white men as
dwelt there had for the most part native followings； and； I may add；
native wives。
We spent two days at this settlement of Durban； where Captain Richardson
had some cargo to land for the English settlers； one or two of whom had
started a trade with the natives and with parties of the emigrant Boers
who were beginning to enter the territory by the overland route。 Those
days I passed on shore； though I would not allow Hans to accompany me
lest he should desert； employing my time in picking up all the
information I could about the state of affairs； especially with
reference to the Zulus； a people with whom I was destined ere long to
make an intimate acquaintance。 Needless to say； I inquired both from
natives and from white men whether anything was known of the fate of
Marais's party； but no one seemed even to have heard of them。 One thing
I did learn； however； that my old friend； Pieter Retief； with a large
following； had crossed the Quathlamba Mountains； which we now know as
the Drakensberg； and entered the territory of Natal。 Here they proposed
to settle if they could get the leave of the Zulu king； Dingaan； a
savage potentate of whom and of whose armies everyone seemed to live in
terror。
On the third morning； to my great relief； for I was terrified lest we
should be delayed； the Seven Stars sailed with a favouring wind。 Three
days later we entered the harbour of Delagoa； a sheet of water many
miles long and broad。 Notwithstanding its shallow entrance； it is the
best natural port in Southeastern Africa； but now； alas！ lost to the
English。
Six hours later we anchored opposite a sandbank on which stood a
dilapidated fort and a dirty settlement known as Lorenzo Marquez； where
the Portuguese kept a few soldiers； most of them coloured。 I pass over
my troubles with the Customs； if such they could be called。 Suffice it
to say that ultimately I succeeded in landing my goods； on which the
duty chargeable was apparently enormous。 This I did by distributing
twenty…five English sovereigns among various officials； beginning with
the acting…governor and ending with a drunken black sweep who sat in a
kind of sentry box on the quay。
Early next morning the Seven Stars sailed again； because of some quarrel
with the officials； who threatened to seize herI forget why。 Her
destination was the East African ports and； I think； Madagascar； where a
profitable trade was to be done in carrying cattle and slaves。 Captain
Richardson said he might be back at Lorenzo Marquez in two or three
months' time； or he might not。 As a matter of fact the latter
supposition proved correct； for the Seven Stars was lost on a sandbank
somewhere up the coast； her crew only escaping to Mombasa after enduring
great hardships。
Well； she had served my turn； for I heard afterwards that no other ship
put into the Bay for a whole year from the date she left it。 So if I
had not caught her at Port Elizabeth I could not have come at all；
except； of course； overland。 This at best must have taken many months；
and was moreover a journey that no man could enter on alone。
Now I get back to my story again。
There was no inn at Lorenzo Marquez。 Through the kindness of one of his
native or half…breed wives； who could talk a little Dutch； I managed；
however； to get a lodging in a tumble…down house belonging to a
dissolute person who called himself Don Jose Ximenes； but who was really
himself a half…breed。 Here good fortune befriended me。 Don Jose； when
sober； was a trader with the natives； and a year before had acquired
from them two good buck wagons。 Probably they were stolen from some
wandering Boers or found derelict after their murder or death by fever。
These wagons he was only too glad to sell for a song。 I think I gave
him twenty pounds English for the two； and thirty more for twelve oxen
that he had bought at the same time as the wagons。 They were fine
beasts of the Afrikander breed； that after a long rest had grown quite
fat and strong。
Of course twelve oxen were not enough to draw two wagons； or even one。
Therefore； hearing that there were natives on the mainland who possessed
plenty of cattle； I at once gave out that I was ready to buy； and pay
well in blankets； cloth； beads and so forth。 The result was that within
two days I had forty or fifty to choose from； small animals of the Zulu
character and； I should add； unbroken。 Still they were sturdy and used
to that veld and its diseases。 Here it was that my twelve trained
beasts came in。 By putting six of them to each wagon； two as fore… and
two as after…oxen； and two in the middle； Hans and I were able to get
the other ten necessary to make up a team of sixteen under some sort of
control。
Heavens！ how we worked during the week or so which went by before it was
possible for me to leave Lorenzo Marquez。 What with mending up and
loading the wagons； buying and breaking in the wild oxen； purchasing
provisions； hiring native servantsof whom I was lucky enough to secure
eight who belonged to one of the Zulu tribes and desired to get back to
their own country； whence they had wandered with some Boers； I