but this complaint appeared to be of an intractable nature, and in
spite of all which was done, seemed still to take its own course. One
of its remarkable symptoms, was, an unusual heat at the throat,
followed by a violent cough attended with expectoration. This, I
was told, had universally been found to be the effect of the disorder.
On the following day, I received a visit from Dr. Menzies and
Lieutenant Schonfeldt, the commissary for troops at Graaffreynet.
In most cases friendly visits to an invalid are beneficial, as they
divert the thoughts, and thus often operate more successfully
towards the recovery of health, than the most efficacious medicines.
The polite attention which I experienced from Dr. Menzies during
the three weeks of his stay at this village, contributed much to
render my detention here less irksome to me, than it otherwise
would have been. There were no English residents at Graaffreynet,
excepting a few dragoons for the purpose of conveying despatches;
nor, during the whole time of my abode here, was it visited by any
of my countrymen, excepting once by Colonel Arbuthnot, with
whom I had the pleasure, at Lieutenant Schonfeldt’s table, of conversing
in my own language; a gratification only to be appreciated
by those who have long been deprived of it.
28th. Thirty waggons with colonists and their families from various
parts of the district, some from a distance of two or three days’ journey,
arrived and were outspanned on the plain which surrounds the church,
and to which the number of white tilts gave somewhat the appearance
of a fair. These people came for the purpose of attending divine
service and of receiving the sacrament; the following being one of
the quarterly days appointed for that duty. On such occasions,
it is said, thrice this number are usually seen; but the absence of
many boors who were on militia duty in the Zuureveld, had greatly
reduced it ; and the clergyman, on inquiring why so few now attended,
was told that many more communicants would have come,
had they not been deterred by a report that a body of three hundred
Hottentots were marching in a hostile manner to Graaffreynet.
It is very difficult to account reasonably for the propensity which
men, not only in this Colony, but in other countries better informed
and more polished, have for propagating false reports. Their fears,
their credulity, or their folly, may obtain a perverse influence over
their judgment; or their private views, or some secret motives, may
seduce their feelings and respect for veracity, and lead them to repeat
and spread such reports; but those who first set on foot tales
which they know to be untrue, are the very worst and most dangerous
characters in society, and deserve the heaviest punishment, if
any can be found heavier than the universal contempt which follows
detection. In the present instance, the misrepresentation was, I
believe, to be attributed only to ignorance and fear combined.
April 1st. Graaffreynet holds a regular communication with
Cape Town, by means of a mail which sets out every first and second
Wednesday in the month. This mail is conveyed on horseback from
stage to stage, by Hottentots who are under the superintendance of
farmers, or other persons, residing at certain distances along the road.
It does not proceed directly to Cape Town, which, by the nearest
way over the Karro and round by Tulbagh, may perhaps be about
six hundred and fifty miles distant; but it is carried to Uitenhage,
and thence forwarded to the Cape. By this day’s post, I informed
my friends at the latter place, of my arrival here, and of the present
uncertain state of the question respecting the hiring of Hottentots.
Having now sufficiently recovered my strength, I took a ramble
along the river. The rains of the two last days, had rendered this
stream impassable for any carriage, and as there is no practicable
road towards the south, but through the stream, several of the
waggons which arrived on the 28th, were detained two or three days.
This, which is a serious inconvenience to the town, might be remedied
by a ferry-boat similar to that which has been described when passing
the Berg river: or it might perhaps not be found impossible to
form a road, for foot-passengers at least, along the mountains on the
eastern side; by which the river might be avoided altogether.
The village of Oraaffreynet has its advantages, as well as its
disadvantages ; it is situated in the heart of a country productive
in cattle and corn, rapidly increasing in population and property,
and surrounded by a fertile soil; it enjoys abundance of water, and,
it is said, a healthy climate. Fruits and vegetables of all kinds grow