Thus was I reduced to the necessity of making up my number
with three of the first set: of these Keyser Dikkop (Emperor Thickhead)
was the only one to whose character no particular objection had
been made. The names of the other two were, Stuurman Witbooy,
and Andries Michael.
The object of my journey into the Colony being now to a certain
extent, obtained, for there was at this place no further prospect of
hiring serviceable men, and I judged it would have been even
dangerous to take a greater number of such as had been proposed for
me, I gave orders to prepare for leaving Graaffreynet on the next day.
I purchased of Mare an additional supply of tobacco, not only
for the purpose of distribution among the Bushmen of the Cisga-
riepine, but in order to increase my original stock; being well
assured that a traveller in Southern Africa can never have too much
of this commodity. In Mare’s shop, I was shown a large quantity
which he was just about to send by a fieldcornet, to the borders of
the Bushman country northward of Sneeuwbergen, to be distributed
among the natives as a present from the Cape government.
During my residence at Graaffreynet, I experienced many acts
of friendship from several of its inhabitants, amongst whom the
Rev. Mr. Kicherer and his lady, stand the foremost, and well deserve my
warmest and most sincere thanks for their hospitality, and the kind
interest which they took in my affairs. Even at the last moment he
seemed happy at having an opportunity of testifying the continuance
of that Christian benevolence with which he hastened to my hut at
the foot of Sneeuwberg; for, learning that I had ordered from a
neighbour and friend of his, named Hendrik Meyhtjes, fifteen sheep
as a provision for the journey, and for which I was to have paid two
rixdollars each, he privately interfered with his friend, and on my
preparing to discharge this debt, I was told that I had nothing to
pay: nor could I even discover whether my thanks were due most to
Mr. Kicherer, or to Mr. Meyntjes. So unexpected a gift was truly
gratifying; because it carried with it, that which only can make a
gift agreeable or acceptable — the pure expression of the giver’s kind
and friendly sentiments.
To Mrs. Stockenstrom I was indebted for a most useful addition
to my store of beads; these were the more valuable because they
were not, as I found by experience, easily to be purchased at this
distance from Cape Town. They were the remains of some which
the late landdrost had brought to Graaffreynet for the purpose of
distribution among that very nation by whom he was so treacherously
murdered.
From the acting-landdrost and the district-secretary Mr. Muller,
I at all times received civility and attention: from the former I
readily obtained cash for a bill on my agents in Cape Town. Neither
do I forget a voluntary offer made by honest Bremmer, of supplying
me with money for my draft to any amount: knowing that there was
a scarcity of cash at this place, he wished to prove himself desirous of
rendering me a more material service, than the use of the organ.
I indulge myself in acknowledging every act of goodwill towards
me, because in doing this I enjoy a second time, the pleasure which
they first gave m e: and if the course and consistency of my narrative,
or the justification of my own proceedings, should compel me sometimes
to notice acts of a contrary kind, I hope that every one will do
me the justice to believe that I do so, with pain and great reluctance.