Chapter I: Front Matter

THE MISSION OR SCENES IN AFRICA

_WRITTEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE_

BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT AUTHOR OF "FRANK MILDMAY," "PERCIVAL KEENE," "PHANTOM SHIP," "DOG FIEND," "JACOB FAITHFUL," "POACHER," ETC., ETC.

_WITH ILLUSTRATIONS_

GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS LONDON: BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL NEW YORK: 9 LAFAYETTE PLACE

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Account of Sir Charles Wilmot--Loss of the Grosvenor--Sir Charles's doubts respecting the Survival of his Wife and Children--Alexander Wilmot--His Character--The Newspaper Paragraph--Details of the Wreck of the Grosvenor--Surmises as to the Fate of the Passengers

CHAPTER II.

Alexander's Reflections--His Plan--Sir Charles opposes it--His unwilling Consent--Alexander's Departure

CHAPTER III.

Alexander's Melancholy--Finds a Friend--Sea Sickness--Mr. Fairburn--The Passengers--Conversations--The Cape--Mr. Fairburn's Account of the Treatment of the Hottentots by the Dutch

CHAPTER IV.

Natural History discussed--Mr. Swinton's Enthusiasm--Further History of the Cape--Dutch Barbarity--Alexander's Indignation

CHAPTER V.

Aquatic Birds--Guano--Mr. Fairburn's Narrative continued--Stuurman--Mokanna--The Attack--Failure of the Caffres

CHAPTER VI.

Sharks--Their Cowardice--Attack on one by Neptune--Divers' Dangers--Mr. Fairburn continues his Story--Mokanna's Fate--Disturbances among the Caffre Tribes

CHAPTER VII.

Mr. Swinton agrees to accompany Alexander--Land, ho!--Cape Town--Major Henderson--He joins the Party--Begum--Chaka's History

CHAPTER VIII.

Night in Algoa Bay--The Major meets Maxwell--Preparations to start--The Caravan--Description of it--The Departure

CHAPTER IX.

The Plans of the Adventurers--Big Adam's Bravery--Milius--His Refreshments--What his House contained--Speech to the Hottentots--The Bushman Boy, Prince Omrah

CHAPTER X.

Wild Beasts--Insubordination of the Hottentots--Danger from Elephants--Their hideous Shrieks--Big Adam's Terror--Lieutenant Hoodie's wonderful Escape--Sagacity of the Elephant--Intentions of the Party

CHAPTER XI.

Arrival at Mr. S.'s Station--The Quarrel between Hinza and Voosani--An Escort proposed--The Caffre Character--The Sabbath--Painful Position of a Missionary's Wife

CHAPTER XII.

The Royal Visit--Mutual Civilities--The Band of Warriors--Hippopotami--Their Carcasses--Omrah's Cunning--The Trick--Big Adam sulky--A narrow Escape--Preparations for the Hunt

CHAPTER XIII.

Look out--The Signal--The Major's Nerve--Charge upon the Camp--Hottentots drunk--Begum's Uneasiness--Signs of Danger--Lions' Sagacity--Anecdotes

CHAPTER XIV.

A Storm--Sober again--Elephant Steak--Omrah's Tricks--Man-eaters--A horrible Adventure--The Sleepers awakened

CHAPTER XV.

Quah! quah!--Alexander's and the Major's Danger--A critical Situation--Omrah's Presence of Mind--Divine Worship--Instruction of Caffres--Advance of the Enemy--Panic of the Natives--Refusal to proceed--The tables turned--The Council--Submission--Arrangements

CHAPTER XVI.

An Expedition--Rumors of War--Judicious Advice--Daaka's Hut--The Interview with Daaka--Explanations--Remains of the Grosvenor--The Mystery solved--Alexander's Joy--The Wagons again--The Major's Fortress--Plans for the Future

CHAPTER XVII.

Quetoo's Movements--Destruction of his Army--The Return--Plenty of Sport--The Warriors rewarded--Precautions--Antelopes--The Victim--A large Meal

CHAPTER XVIII.

Conversation--Gnoos--Five Lions--Thirst quenched--Ferocity of the Hyena--Anecdotes--Preparations for a Chase

CHAPTER XIX.

A practical Joke--A lucky Escape--History of the Mantatees--Mantatee Courage--A final Slaughter--Discussions--Swinton's Account of Africaner

CHAPTER XX.

Omrah's Intelligence--Lion-hunting--Silence and Caution--An unpleasant Surprise--Self-sacrifice of a Gemsbok--Swinton's Story continued--Conversation on Lions--Anecdotes--Big Adam punished

CHAPTER XXI.

Interview with Bushmen--A shrewd Surmise--A Herd of Buffaloes--A providential Escape--A Scene--Swanevelt in Danger--Conversation--A Story

CHAPTER XXII.

Overpowering Heat--Divine Service--An Intrusion--The poisoned Lion--Discussion on venomous Reptiles--Lizard shot--Swinton's Information to his Companions

CHAPTER XXIII.

A good Shot--Water scarce--Omrah in Trouble--Turtle Soup--Sufferings--Sufferings at an end--An earthly Paradise

CHAPTER XXIV.

Aspect of the Country--Chase of a Rhinoceros--Omrah's Plan succeeds--A Lion's Leap--Account of a Rhinoceros-Hunt--Elands shot--A Lioness attacked--The Lion's Skin awarded--An expiring Effort

CHAPTER XXV.

Swinton's Astonishment--A Dialogue--Maternal Affection--An Alarm--Griquas fallen in with--The Message to Moselekatsee--Fire!--The Matabili King--Expectations

CHAPTER XXVI.

Chase of a Giraffe--Proposed Retreat--The Major's Object attained--Treachery--Treachery defeated--Omrah's Scheme--Hopes of Water disappointed

CHAPTER XXVII.

Further Progress--The Horses and Oxen break away--The Pursuit--Hopes and Fears--The Caravan lost--Intense Heat--Omrah's Courage--A Temporary Relief--Despair--Water at last obtained--Swinton's Signals answered

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Panic produced by a Lion--Omrah's and Big Adam's Predicament--A Lion's Mode of stimulating his Appetite--A Meeting with Bushmen--Cattle stolen--Recovery attempted--Oxen poisoned--Death of Piets--Arrival at Cape Town

CHAPTER XXIX.

Parting Scenes--Alexander and the Major embark--Alexander's Arrival at Home--He relates his adventures--Sir Charles's Health gradually declines--His Presents to Swinton and the Major--His Death--Conclusion

THE MISSION, OR SCENES IN AFRICA.