Banks of the Ñotoane
July 1847
My dear Father
Through mercy we are now
5near the end of our journey. Have met
with no accidents - the health of all very
good. For the mercies we enjoy we
thank Him who has been our protector
night and day. A lion came up to
10us at the meritsowe but was driven
off by the shouting of the people
The lungs of Khalincele you may
be sure did their duty: We have
heard the roar frequently since but
15that is all. & we wish we may never
experience more. We have been
very unsuccessful in securing the
game we wounded. Two spring-
[Robert has just come over the back
20of the seat head foremost & his heels
whirled over on the table but knowing
the somerset is his own fault does not
cry.)] -bucks one sersebe & a pitse are all
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An ostrich nest twice - good eggs
we have got. The goats give a little milk
morning & evening and are thus very
useful. We have been very comfortable
5in this journey for most of which
we have to thank your handywork &c.
Mr Evans met us this evening
He has not succeeded with Sechele
but has with Sekomi. Cumming
10seems to have forestalled him. I feel
sorry I was not there when Evans
came through. I think Sechele has
a prejudice against him ever since
he was there in partnership with
15Greig. I might have removed part
of it. I think it would be more
for his advantage to deal with Mr Hume
than with Cumming. The latter has
always been very anxious that he should
20conclude a bargain to deal with him
exclusively & may have managed it
so now.
We spent sunday at Setlagole - had
a meeting with Sebutsane's people there
25Gasitsioe son of Chose knows how to read
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the chief too knows the letters but cannot
spell. He says he waits at Setlagole to see
what the Griquas will do in his country
before he returns to it. We could not come
5by a straighter course as we intended, the
big waggon being too heavy for travelling
through the long grass. We spent sunday
last near Raputse came along the
Bakhatla hills yesterday, course nearly
10north. and today came down to the
Ñotuane. course N.E. even this is
considerably shorter than the Mamoori
road. We could reach home tomorrow
but prefer an easy stage and make
15our entrance on Thursday -
Mosate called Moshatta by the Bamapela
means maloapa a khosi
Bebenya to gleam as lightening
the Barolongs call the sea Lopenole
pena refers to the fullness of the water
or the absence of banks
merisantse - a plaguy fellow.
Metsehula the sea
Likahela corn from every one levi[ ]. &
0004
given to the Maroka or rain doctors. This
is the word to which I referred as revenue
Levies. They say Likahela tsa pula
Mashoa is another word for Makheto
Lehañke as applied to a stone means hard
Sehãñke to a man perhaps bravery or hard
heartedness.
unmanageable?
Boceleka Tsikela - Konolola
Tlatlarega Tlatlarietsa - sound an alarm
shuma breathe h[ ]d in sleep. Mema
not Méma means the same as hegeloa
or Momoga
serea paltry
Meretlega change the conduct
The Thobane ea bogaera is called Khoroane
ea khoti.(or khuti a hole)
The above are what I have been picking
up in the way. Will be happy indeed
20if any of them proves of use - empekoan
something of cowardice. Am glad of to
have something as an inducement to
pick up new words. I began to
write an analysis of the language with