A Rip Van Winkle of the Kalahari | Page 5

are but vermin, and a poisoned
arrow is all you are likely to get from them." But, secure in my
knowledge of the riches awaiting me, I was not to be deterred; and
there came a day when my wagon, loaded with a goodly stock of
"trade" goods, trekked from the sands of Walfisch Bay towards the then

unknown country lying to the north. Rain had fallen and I found the
trek by no means as difficult as I had expected, for I had good native
guides, and for a time all went well. But gradually the long sandy
stretches were left behind, and the country became extremely difficult.
On all sides rose vast table-topped mountains with almost
perpendicular sides, and the wide valleys between them gradually
narrowed till they became nothing but deep, narrow, precipitous gorges,
impassable for a wagon. Deep we penetrated into this tangle of
mountains, endeavoring in vain to find a way through in the direction I
believed the valley to lie, and at length it became evident that to
proceed farther with the wagon was out of the question. Here, therefore,
in a well-wooded kloof, with an abundance of water, I made my central
camp; and from it I proceeded to explore the country farther north. By
this time the wild Bushmen, who had hitherto fled at our approach, had
gained confidence, and came freely to the camp, and I had guides in
plenty. For a time their extraordinary "click" language was utterly
beyond my comprehension, but at length I learnt enough of it to make
them understand what I wished to find.
But search as I would I could never find the spot--valley after valley
they took me to, krantz after krantz, and kloof after kloof, I scrambled
through and searched, but all in vain. Mineral wealth I found
everywhere, copper and tin in abundance, and in one deep valley rich
nuggets of gold, but still the diamonds evaded me. Nor did I ever find
them, though I am sure that Anderson's tale was true, and that
somewhere in those mountains lie diamonds galore. It may be that they
are now buried deep in the sand; for at times the wind blows with
incredible force; and in the terrific sandstorms, huge dunes are lifted
and swept across the country; and it may well be that the deep valley of
his day is now filled to the level of its walls.
Sick and disheartened I determined at last to offer a big reward to any
of the guides who should bring in a diamond to me; and calling them
all together, I made them understand as much; at the same time
showing one of the little diamonds that Anderson had given me. A
trade musket, with powder and shot, was to be the reward; and as this
was a prize beyond the dreams of these poor Bushmen there was a

general exodus from the camp in search of the "bright stones." From
their excited exclamations when I showed them the diamond, I gathered
that they had all seen such stones, and I cheered myself with the hope
that at last I should be rewarded for all my hardships. But, alas! They
brought in "bright stones" truly bright stones in abundance but quartz
crystals chiefly; bright, clear, and sparkling, but of course utterly
valueless; and though I sent them out again and again, they brought
nothing in of any value.
Amongst my boys, who had followed me from Walfisch Bay, was one
Inyati, who was much attached to me, and who had become a sort of
body-servant to me. He was a fine upstanding chap who held himself
absolutely aloof from the Griquas and Hottentots that formed the bulk
of my paid followers, and to whose oblique eyes, and pepper-corn wool,
his expressive orbs and shock of crinkled hair formed an agreeable
contrast. As for the Bushmen, Inyati treated them, and looked upon
them, absolutely as dogs. He was a good game spoorer, and I had
taught him to shoot; and so intelligent was he, that I had taken a great
interest in him, and had learnt to talk to him in his own tongue a
sonorous, expressive language entirely different to the peculiar "click"
of the local natives.
I knew that his dearest wish was to possess a gun of his own, and fully
expected that he too would wish to join in the search that might lead to
his gaining one; but, though he had examined the stones I had shown
far more intently than any of them, he made no effort to leave the camp.
Day after day he attended to my simple wants, spending all his spare
time in polishing my weapons, a work he absolutely loved, and
crooning interminable songs in a low