THE LAND JOURNEY.
These introductions over, William Emery put himself at the disposal
of the new arrivals, for in his position of astronomer at the Cape,
he was inferior in rank to Colonel Everest, a delegate of the English
Government, and, with Matthew Strux, joint president of the commission.
He knew, as well, that he was a distinguished man of science,
famous for his reductions of the nebulæ and his calculations of the
occultations of the stars. He was a cold, methodical man, of about
fifty years of age, every hour of his life being portioned out with
mathematical accuracy. Nothing unforeseen ever happened to him, and his
punctuality in every thing was like that of the stars in passing the
meridian, and it might be said that all his doings were regulated by
the chronometer. William Emery knew all this, and had therefore never
doubted that the commission would arrive on the appointed day. During
this time he was waiting for the Colonel to tell him the object of this
mission to South Africa; but as he was still silent on the point,
Emery thought it better not to ask any questions, as very likely the
hour fixed in the Colonel's mind for the subject had not yet come.
Emery also knew by repute the wealthy Sir John Murray, who (almost
a rival to Sir James Ross and Lord Elgin) was, although without
office, an honour to England by his scientific labours. His pecuniary
sacrifices to science were likewise considerable, for he had devoted
£20,000 to the establishment of a giant reflector, a match for the
telescope at Parson Town, by whose means the elements of a number of
double stars had just been determined. He was a man of about forty
years of age, with an aristocratic bearing, but whose character it was
impossible to discover through his imperturbable exterior.
As to the three Russians, Strux, Palander, and Zorn, their names were
also well known to William Emery, although he was not personally
acquainted with them. Nicholas Palander and Michael Zorn paid a certain
amount of deference to Matthew Strux, as was due to his position, if it
had not been to his merit.
The only remark that Emery made was that they were in equal numbers,
three English and three Russians; and the crew of the "Queen and Czar"
(for that was the name of the steamboat) consisted of ten men, five
English and five Russians.
"Mr. Emery," said Colonel Everest, when the introductions were over,
"we are now as well acquainted as if we had travelled together from
London to Cape Voltas. Besides, your labours have already earned you a
just renown, and on that account I hold you in high esteem. It was at
my request that the English Government appointed you to assist in our
operations in South Africa."
William Emery bowed in acknowledgment, and thought that he was now
going to hear the object of the scientific commission to the southern
hemisphere; but still Colonel Everest did not explain it.
"Mr. Emery," he went on, "are your preparations complete?"
"Quite, Colonel," replied the astronomer. "According to the directions
in Mr. Airy's letter, I left Cape Town a month ago, and went to the
station at Lattakoo, and there I collected all the materials for an
expedition into the interior of Africa, provisions, waggons, horses,
and bushmen. There is an escort of 100 armed men waiting for you at
Lattakoo, and they will be under the command of a clever and celebrated
hunter, whom I now beg to present to you, the bushman Mokoum."
"The bushman Mokoum!" cried the Colonel (if his usual cold tone could
justify such a verb), "the bushman Mokoum! I know his name perfectly
well."
"It is the name of a clever, brave African," added Sir John Murray,
turning to the hunter, who was not at all discomposed by the grand airs
of the Europeans.
"The hunter Mokoum," said William Emery, as he introduced his companion.
[Illustration: "The Hunter Mokoum," said William Emery, presenting his
Companion.]
"Your name is well known in the United Kingdom, bushman," replied
Colonel Everest. "You were the friend of Anderson and the guide of
David Livingstone, whose friend I have the honour of being. I thank
you in the name of England, and I congratulate Mr. Emery on having
chosen you as the chief of our caravan. Such a hunter as you must be a
connoisseur of fire-arms, and as we have a very fair supply, I shall
beg you to take your choice of the one which will suit you the best; we
know that it will be in good hands."
A smile of satisfaction played round the bushman's lips, for although
he was no doubt gratified by the recognition of his services in
England, yet the Colonel's offer touched him the most: he then returned
thanks in polite terms, and stepped aside, while Emery and the
Europeans continued their conversation.
The young astronomer went through all the details of the expedition he
had prepared, and the Colonel seemed delighted. He was anxious to reach
Lattakoo as quickly as possible, as the caravan ought to start at the
beginning of March, after the rainy season.
"Will you be kind enough to decide how you will get to the town,
Colonel Everest?" said William Emery.
"By the Orange River, and one of its affluents, the Kuruman, which
flows close to Lattakoo."
"True," replied the astronomer, "but however well your vessel may
travel, it cannot possibly ascend the cataract of Morgheda!"
"We will go round the cataract, Mr. Emery," replied the Colonel, "and
by making a land journey of a few miles, we can re-embark above the
falls; and from there to Lattakoo, if I am not mistaken, the rivers are
navigable for a vessel that does not draw much water."
"No doubt, Colonel," answered William Emery, "but this steamboat is too
heavy...."
"Mr. Emery," interrupted the Colonel, "this vessel is a masterpiece
from Leard and Co's manufactory in Liverpool. It takes to pieces, and
is put together again with the greatest ease, a key and a few bolts
being all that is required by men used to the work. You brought a
waggon to the falls, did you not?"
"Yes, Colonel," answered Emery, "our encampment is not a mile away."
"Well, I must beg the bushman to have the waggon brought to the
landing-place, and it will then be loaded with the portions of the
vessel and its machinery, which also takes to pieces; and we shall then
get up to the spot where the Orange becomes navigable."
Colonel Everest's orders were obeyed. The bushman disappeared quickly
in the underwood, promising to be back in less than an hour, and
while he was gone, the steamboat was rapidly unloaded. The cargo was
not very considerable; it consisted of some cases of philosophical
instruments; a fair collection of guns of Purdey Moore's manufacture,
of Edinburgh; some kegs of brandy; some canisters of preserved meat;
cases of ammunition; portmanteaus reduced to the smallest size;
tent-cloths and all their utensils, looking as if they had come out
of a travelling-bazaar; a carefully packed gutta-percha canoe, which
took up no more room than a well-folded counterpane; some materials
for encamping, &c., &c.; and lastly, a fan-shaped mitrailleuse, a
machine not then brought to perfection, but formidable enough to
terrify any enemy who might come across their path. All these were
placed on the bank; and the engine, of 8-horse power, was divided
into three parts: the boiler and its tubes; the mechanism, which was
parted from the boiler by a turn of a key; and the screw attached to
the false stern-post. When these had been successively carried away,
the inside of the vessel was left free. Besides the space reserved for
the machinery and the stores, it was divided into a fore-cabin for the
use of the crew, and an aft-cabin, occupied by Colonel Everest and his
companions. In the twinkling of an eye the partitions vanished, all the
chests and bedsteads were lifted out, and now the vessel was reduced to
a mere shell, thirty-five feet long, and composed of three parts,
like the "Mâ-Robert," the steam-vessel used by Dr. Livingstone in his
first voyage up the Zambesi. It was made of galvanized steel, so that
it was light, and at the same time resisting. The bolts, which fastened
the plates over a framework of the same metal, kept them firm, and
also prevented the possibility of a leakage. William Emery was truly
astounded at the simplicity of the work and the rapidity with which
it was executed. The waggon, under the guidance of Mokoum and the two
Bochjesmen, had only arrived an hour when they were ready to load it.
This waggon, rather a primitive vehicle, was mounted on four massive
wheels, each couple being about twenty feet apart; it was a regular
American "car" in length. This clumsy machine, with its creaking
axles projecting a good foot beyond the wheels, was drawn by six tame
buffaloes, two and two, who were extremely sensitive to the long goad
carried by their driver. It required nothing less than such beasts
as these to move the vehicle when heavily laden, for in spite of the
adroitness of the "leader," it stuck in the mire more than once. The
crew of the "Queen and Czar" now proceeded to load the waggon so as to
balance it well every where. The dexterity of sailors is proverbial,
and the lading of the vehicle was like play to the brave men. They laid
the larger pieces of the boat on the strongest part of the waggon,
immediately over the axles of the wheels, so that the cases, chests,
barrels, and the lighter and more fragile packages easily found room
between them. As to the travellers themselves, a four miles' walk was
nothing to them. By three o'clock the loading was finished, and Colonel
Everest gave the signal for starting. He and his companions, with
William Emery as guide, took the lead, while the bushman, the crew,
and the drivers of the waggon followed more slowly. They performed the
journey without fatigue, for the slopes that led to the upper course
of the Orange made their road easy, by making it longer, and this was
a happy thing for the heavily-laden waggon, as it would thus reach its
goal more surely, if more slowly.
[Illustration: All these Objects were deposited on the Beach.]
The different members of the commission clambered lightly up the side
of the hill, and the conversation became general, but there was still
no mention of the object of the expedition. The Europeans were admiring
the splendid scenes that were opened to their view, for this grand
nature, so beautiful in its wildness, charmed them as it had charmed
the young astronomer, and their voyage had not yet surfeited them with
the natural beauties of this African region, though they admired every
thing with a quiet admiration, and, English-like, would not do any
thing that might seem "improper." However, the cataract drew forth some
graceful applause, and although they clapped perhaps with only the tips
of their fingers, yet it was enough to show that "nil admirari" was
not quite their motto. Besides, William Emery thought it his duty to
do the honours of South Africa to his guests; for he was at home, and
like certain over-enthusiastic citizens, he did not spare a detail of
his African park. Towards half-past four they had passed the cataract
of Morgheda, and being now on level ground, the upper part of the river
lay before them as far as their eye could reach, and they encamped on
the bank to await the arrival of the waggon. It appeared at the top of
the hill about five o'clock, having accomplished the journey in safety,
and Colonel Everest ordered it to be unloaded immediately, announcing
that they were to start at daybreak the next morning. All the night
was passed in different occupations. The shell of the vessel was put
together again in less than an hour; then the machinery of the screw
was put into its place; the metal partitions were fixed between the
cabins; the store-rooms were refurnished, and the different packages
neatly arranged on board, and every thing done so quickly that it told
a great deal in favour of the crew of the "Queen and Czar." These
Englishmen and Russians were picked men, clever and well disciplined,
and thoroughly to be depended on. The next day, the 1st of February,
the boat was ready to receive its passengers at daybreak. Already there
was a volume of black smoke pouring from the funnel, and the engineer,
to put the machinery in motion, was causing jets of white steam to
fly across the smoke. The machine being at high pressure, without a
condenser, the steam escaped at every stroke of the piston, according
to the system applied to locomotives; and as to the boiler, with its
ingeniously contrived tubes, presenting a large surface to the furnace,
it only required half an hour to furnish a sufficient quantity of
steam. They had laid in a good stock of ebony and guiacum, which were
plentiful in the neighbourhood, and they were now lighting the great
fire with this valuable wood.
At six o'clock Colonel Everest gave the signal for starting, and
passengers and crew went on board the "Queen and Czar." The hunter,
who was acquainted with the course of the river, followed, leaving the
two Bochjesmen to take the waggon back to Lattakoo. Just as the vessel
was slipping its cable, Colonel Everest turned to the astronomer, and
said,--
"By-the-bye, Mr. Emery, you know why we have come here?"
"I have not the least idea, Colonel."
"It is very simple, Mr. Emery: we have come to measure an arc of
meridian in South Africa."