bellows; but I usually took with me my Hottentot, Philip, for this
purpose, who was more amused perhaps than any one else, and not a
little pleased when I was obliged to tell him that I could not play
unless he helped me ; for it often happened that, his attention being
entirely engaged by the music, he forgot to blow. The eldest of the
daughters could play some psalm tunes, which she had been taught
by the person who ‘ worked’ the organ at the church; for so I must
term it.
I had, previously to hearing ofBremmer’s, made, by the clergyman’s
permission, an attempt upon that organ, attended by the
organist himself; but was completely disappointed at finding it
exceedingly out of order. It Was however the donation of a pious
boor of the district, to whom it had cost a considerable sum of money,
though quite old when he purchased it. Yet, notwithstanding the
price, it had a few defects over and above being thoroughly worn
out: the keys were so rattling and noisy, and some so loose, and
others so tight, that it was difficult to know what force each one
required; and often, one or other, after being pressed down, would
remain in that position while the pipe kept on growling, or squealing,
till accident, or some assistance, stopped it again.
A regular musician could hardly be found to accept a situation
which so badly repaid his services; for this person, who played
merely psalm tunes in a plain manner and made no pretensions
to a voluntary, was glad to accept, in addition to his music, a trifling
salary as assistant in the village-school under the clerk.
The number of children taught in this school, was about fifty;
and the charge was — for learning to read, including a book, one
rixdollar a month; for writing, one more; and for arithmetic, another
rixdollar. The master himself was allowed besides these emoluments,
a house and garden.
14th. At length a polite letter from the commandant, dated at
Bruyntjes Hoogte on the 12th, in answer to one from me on the
31st of the preceding month, informed me that he had written to the
acting-landdrost to desire him to assist me in procuring men ; and at
the same time requested me to restore Philip to his regiment, unless
I found him to be indispensably necessary. Now it seemed that I
was destined always to have favorable opportunities thrown in my
way, for trying and proving my patience: for not more than six
hours before the receipt of this letter, the landdrost himself had set
out on a journey to the commandant, for the purpose of arranging
some business which required a personal conference. Nothing therefore
could be done with respect to my own affairs, till his return.
As there appeared so much difficulty in obtaining men at any
rate, I considered that giving up one out of the only two which
remained in my service, would really be | advancing backwards’ in the
affair which brought me to Graaffreynet. I however mentioned his
colonel’s wish to the Hottentot, and now gave him his option of being
a soldier again, or of returning with me into the Transgariepine; but
he had so little hesitation in the choice, that he was even uneasy at
the idea of the bare proposal of sending him back to his regiment.
I afterwards repeated this proposal, but as he persisted in the same
answer; and as he had been trained to my mode of travelling, and
was now a veteran in my service, I considered him to be { indispensably
necessary.’
Speelman also, was claimed again by a person whom he happened
unexpectedly one day to meet in the village, and to whom he had
formerly been hired for a twelvemonth, but had not served out the
whole period. But he escaped from him, by promising to work
out the remainder of the time, after his return from the present
journey.
During my stay here, much of the time was employed in keeping
my people together, and in watching to prevent their falling into
harm. They occasioned me continual uneasiness; for as they had
now scarcely any occupation, I greatly feared that idleness would lead
them into disorderly habits. The money I had paid them, together
with that which they derived from the sale of the shamboks cut from
the hide of the two rhinoceroses, was to them no source of advantage
; and I had the mortification of discovering that nearly the
whole of it was spent at the pagter’s. I seldom went to the tent without
perceiving evident symptoms of one or other of these foolish men
having taken too much brandy: but I have a pleasure in doing them