tridge-box among them: I was at length obliged to give up the
point; and in a month or two, all the people reverted to their kogel-
tas or bullefr-pouch.
Even Van Roye and Cornells were as stupid, and as unwilling to
adopt improvement, as the rest: and the expectations which I had
been induced to form of the great usefulness of the former, on
account of his having seen Europe and been exhibited as a select
example of an improved Hottentot, were already completely disappointed.
None were more lazy than these two; and they seemed
to consider themselves as hired only to ride along with me for the
gratification of their own curiosity to see the country. They had done,
literally, no work since the day when they first entered my service ;
yet, on account of their being Christememch, they rated themselves so
high, that they actually regarded it as degrading, to do the same work
as a Hottentot. They carried this ignorant mischievous pride so far,
as to deny all knowledge of the Hottentot language; which, with
respect to Van Roye, I knew certainly to be an untruth, and always
believed the other to be better acquainted with it than he pretended.
It was disgusting, though ridiculous, to hear these two woolly-headed
men, call their companions, Hottentots, as an appellation of inferiority
good enough for Heathens, and proper for making these sensible of
the superiority of Christians. This unbecoming spirit was frequently
the cause of broils and discords; and their tempers and conduct, so
very different from what I had expected, were the source of continual
vexation to me, and the germ from which many of my difficulties
and disappointments sprang; an example of laziness and insubordination
which in time infected the others, and required the utmost
vigilance and resolution, to check it.
As the men had been living on animal food for nearly three
weeks, I gave to each a ration of vinegar as a corrective of the supposed
unwholesome effects of such diet when unmixed with vegetable
juices. This, they were all glad to receive; not indeed, in the
light in which it was given ; but, because its stimulating quality gave
it some similitude to wine or brandy. Muchunka, who perhaps
had never tasted any before, and appeared ignorant of its nature,
was just at the moment stopped from drinking it all off at once as
he had seen the others drink their sopje (sopy) or dram. His companions
were much amused at the simplicity of his mistake, and in
the evening when seated round the fire,; they made it the subject
of their jokes.
I Stuurman and Andries were also performers on the gordh; but
their powers on this singular instrument were much inferior to those
of the old Bushman whose portrait is given in the first volume. In
their hands, it produced but little effect, as I could discover no tune
in its notes, although its tone was powerful and musical. To my
ear, their music sounded unmeaning and monotonous j yet they
themselves were very well satisfied and amused, with their own performance.
It is perhaps one of the most fortunate circumstances
attending the practice of music, and at the same time a very natural
effect, that the performer who pretends to nothing above his own
amusement, should in general be pleased with his attempts, though
even below mediocrity. Were it otherwise,- the soothing pleasure of
harmonious sounds and the enjoyments of melody, would be the most
partial gratification which Providence has bestowed on man.
Speelman’s fiddle now lent its powerful aid every evening in
enlivening their fireside; and, as Philip was become a musician and
Gert had gained the use of his hand by the help of a bandage
sufficiently to hold the bow, this ingenious instrument seldom lay unemployed.
By occasional praise, I encouraged them in. this mode of
spending their evenings, conceiving it to be the most harmless in
which they could indulge, and one which was of considerable service
in promoting a cheerful good-humoured temper among the party:
nor was it altogether unimportant to my own views, as it kept their
minds from silently brooding over imaginary or anticipated dangers;
and in some degree rendered them fitter for the expedition.
They even considered it a relaxation of strict discipline and a
favor, that I permitted such an instrument to be used: this I discovered
by Juli’s seriously asking me, whether it was really sinful to
dance, or to play on the fiddle; for, said he, the missionaries tell us