vice, the least reason for saying one angry word to her ; and of this,
she often used to boast when speaking in praise of her master. But
it was not at this time, that I knew her worth, or that of her husband
; and I regret that the present volume will not comprise that
period of my journal, which would best display it.
I was exceedingly rejoiced, and surprised, at seeing Little Mager-
man amongst the party. He had been found at the house of Piet
Van der Merwe, who, happening to meet the boy after he ran away,
and recollecting that he belonged to me, kindly took him home, with
the intention of restoring him on my return ; and in the mean time,
had employed him in tending sheep. The boy being well fed and
housed, and feeling assured that we should pass that way, had remained
there very contentedly, without ever attempting to escape.
My men had, in consequence of his former invitation, taken up their
night’s lodging at Van der Merwe’s ; who treated them as hospitably
as before, and delivered the boy into their hands. Thus, by recovering
him, I felt relieved of much anxiety, as I could now without
fear, venture to pass again through his father’s kraal.
Although the party had been sent off with a sufficient stock of
meat, I found my little flock of sheep reduced to thirteen, and the
people just finishing the second, which had been killed and eaten on
the road. Their account was, that some dogs had bitten one to
death, and the second accidentally had its leg broken by the shepherd
throwing a keeri (or stick) for the purpose of turning it.
The German who was to meet me at this place, came directly
he heard that I was arrived. He declared that he had now given
up all intention of going with us; for, as soon as the acting-land-
drost knew of his having left Graaffreynet, he sent a messenger,
who overtook him on Sneeuwberg, and informed him that ‘ if he
crossed the colonial boundary, the landdrost would seize and confiscate
all his property.’ This would have been an extraordinary, and I
think, illegal, stretch of power: at least, the boors on the northern
borders are in the habit of infringing the regulation against passing
over the boundary, without being visited with confiscation or without
any notice being taken of the fact. Besides which, I carried a formal
permission from the government, for myself and all my people, to go
beyond the limits of the settlement. However; as the case was, I
shall not say that I complain ; because, it might probably have been
the more prudent resolution, to pursue my travels without adding
any white person to my party, as some suspicions, which I could not
wholly lay aside, but which were rather strengthened by what I heard
at this place, had been raised in my mind.
3rd. Of Herholdt, I purchased three horses, chosen out of a stud
of forty colts, none of which had been broken in. Of these, one was
for Van Boye and another for Cornelis. I also bought a musket in
addition, as I had several men who must remain unarmed till we
reached my waggons.
The people set out early in the morning, while Herholdt
hospitably detained me to dinner: after which, he drove me in his
paardewagen to Vermeulen's. At this place we were all received with
the same disinterested and friendly treatment as before; and I had
the satisfaction of thanking the owner himself, as he was now returned
from the ‘ commando.’ *
4th. Here we took our last leave of the colonists; as I intended,
if possible, to avoid the dwelling of Jacob Van Wyk, that I might not
again give that family an opportunity of showing disrespect to an
Englishman.
The party, as far as Klaarwater, now consisted of fifteen men,
one woman and her child, four horses, eight oxen, thirteen sheep,
nineteen dogs, besides two puppies of an excellent breed, given me
at Graaffreynet by Mrs. Maritz.
We advanced this day as far as Groote Fontein, a day’s-journey
of above nineteen miles. Here we took up our quarters in the
unoccupied farm-house, as the weather at night was extremely
chilling.
5th. Having from day to day, during our journey into the colony,
laid down my track upon paper, I was, by these means, enabled to
* The engraving at page 168. is a representation of Vermeulen’s humble, but hospitable,
dwelling; and of the mountain called Kleine Tafelberg.