All the appearances of Hex-river valley declare it, at one
time, to have been a lake, the head of which having given way
at the kloef, has fuffered the water to force itfelf out upon the
next lower terrace, leaving only a bog in the middle, to which
the ftoney bafes o f the mountains Ihelve on each fide. Should
the falls o f Niagara once fweep away the barrier that occafions
them, the lake Erie would then become a plain or valley, like
that of the Hex-river, and many others that occur within the
chains of mountains in Southern Africa.
At the head of this little valley we were to take leave of
every human habitation, for at leaft fixteen days, the time required
to crofs over the Great Karroo, or arid defert, that lay
between us and the diftant diftria o f Graaff Reynet. It therefore
became neceffary to fupply ourfelves with a flock of pro-
vifions, as nothing whatfoever is to be had on the defert except
now and then an antelope. To thofe travellers who are fur-
nifhed with a good waggon and a tent, the want of habitations
is no great lofs; for few of them, behind the firft range of
mountains, have any fort of convenience, comfort, or even
cleanlinefs. Among the planters o f Africa it is true there are
fome who live in a decent manner, particularly the cultivators
of the grape. Many of thefe are defcendants of the French
families who, a little more than a century ago, found an
afylum at the Cape of Good Hope from the religious pe rfe c tions
that drove them from their own country. But a true
Dutch peafant, or boor as he flyles himfelf, has not the fmalleft
idea of what an Englilh farmer means by the word comfort.
Placed in a country where not only the neceffaries, but almoft
every
every luxury o f life might by induftry be procured, he has the
enjoyment of none of them. Though he has cattle in abundance
he makes very little ufe of milk or of butter. In the
midft o f a foil and climate moil favourable for the cultivation
of the vine, he drinks no wine. He makes ufe of few or no
vegetables nor roots. Three times a-day his table is loaded
with maffes of mutton, fwimming in the greafe of the iheep’s
tail. His houfe is either open to the roof, or covered only
with rough poles and turf, affording a favorable ihelter for
fcorpions and fpiders; and the earthy floors are covered with
duff and dirt, and fwarm with infedts, particularly with a fpe-
cies of the termes, which, though not fo deftrudlive as fome
others of this genus, Is neverthelefs a very troublefome and dif-
agreeable animal. His apartments, if he happens to have
more than one, which is not always the cafe among the grazing
farmers, are nearly deftitute- o f furniture. A great cheft
that contains all his moveables, and two fmaller ones that are
fitted to his waggon, are the moft ftriking articles. The bottoms
of his chairs confift of thongs cut from a bullock’s hide.
The windows are without glafs; or if there ihould happen to
be any remains of this article, it is fo patched and daubed as
nearly to exclude the light it was intended to admit. The
boor notwithftanding has his enjoyments: he is abfolute
mailer of a domain of feveral miles in extent; and he lords it
over a few miferable flaves or Hottentots without control.
His pipe fcarcely ever quits his mouth, from the moment he
rifes till he retires to reft, except to give him time to fwallow
his fopie, or a glafs of ftrong ardent fpirit, to eat his meals, and
to take his nap after dinner. Unwilling to work, and unable
to