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We proceeded as best we could, comparatively well having no people in the way to molest us. One night we left the water vatje at the water and a wolf carried it away, some distance off, by the reims that were round it (by which it was hung under the wagon) and next morning when we spanned in, a jong made such a noise, that it attracted the wolf and he followed along the road some little distance.

We met some people who told us that Mr. And Mrs. Tindall were on the road to the Cape, and we should meet them most likely, where the two roads joined the River, so we pushed on, so as to join them, and in the hope of getting assistance. We did find them just where we expected but he said he could give us no assistance as he had only people enough for himself, but we kept within sight of them until we came into the neighbourhood of the Lion River, when he said he must push on as he was in a hurry to reach the Bath[102]. A few days after we got to a verft where there was a trader, who came to our wagon and while he was sitting and talking to father, the children heard the Hottentots talking amongst themselves not knowing they were understood. They were planning how they would flog the trader next day if he would not let them have things at their own prices, so we told him and put him on his guard. Mr. Miller also left us here and joined the trader as he thought to reach the Colony[103] sooner with him; besides we were able to get men here as far as the Bath,[104] which we reached in a few days. Mr. & Mrs. Tindall had left a couple of days before for the Cape but we met Mr. Mealson and Latham here, of course, we were much surprised and pleased. He had been up in Kaffirland in the war since he had left Damaraland and had just returned, they were going back to the Colony[105] and as we were going the same way, they drove our cattle with theirs and we got on pleasantly. Oh! what a relief to find kind friends at last. We again reached the Orange River. It was very low and we could cross safely and I, in the pleasure of once more reaching British ground, was trying to cross by jumping from stone to stone when I slipped and sprained my ankle, but I did not mind it much as a few minutes after I was in the Colony[106] once more. It was now the end of 1851, we reached increased and determined on a good rest, both for ourselves and the cattle. Latham stayed with us and we remained here[107] for three weeks.

Latham and Ben went on to Springbok and got some supplies from Mr. Wild, who had just before opened the mine, there we were all the better for the rest and we reached Grootberg pleasantly, and intended to remain a few days as Mr. Cornelousion and family were most kind and gave us a pressing invitation to do so, and well we did for a few days. My brother Willy was born there[108], and my parents decided not to proceed to the Cape, so father hired some ground and we remained there. After some months father took the cattle to the Cape, and on his return had a little ploughing done. Frank[109] also came from Damaraland, with a troop of cattle, and in a few months returned there again. As father would not consent to Becky[110] getting married yet - he considered her too young - in a few months father got the Kloof farm[111] and we moved there, a very pretty place, and on Frank’s next return from Damaraland, he and Becky got married[112] and three months after, we went to join Frank and Becky in Walwich Bay, where they had gone a couple of months before[113]. It was just the time of the copper mines in Damaraland and Latham and Frank determined to open the mine[114] in Damaraland, which they did, and it was in work for three years,[115] but through mismanagement was given up again and we went to Hondeklip Bay where a cutter was to call for us – and we were detained there several days waiting for it. At last one day it came and there was a German Missionary on board, who had left his family at Rooibank and gone to the Cape on business, his name was Mr. Schoneberg and he was quite delighted that we were going with them, as the sailors and he did not get on very well – they making fun of him and he was nearly besides himself with anxiety having left his wife very ill.
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